What is Zinc Gluconate Used For?
Zinc gluconate is the most widely used zinc source in dietary supplements globally. Its high water solubility and excellent bioavailability make it the preferred choice for immune support tablets, throat lozenges, and functional food products. As the zinc salt of gluconic acid (CAS 4468-02-4), zinc gluconate delivers a gentle mineral with no harsh aftertaste — a key advantage over zinc sulfate or zinc oxide in consumer-facing products.
WIS Biotech manufactures zinc gluconate food grade and feed grade at our Shandong facility with a combined annual gluconate capacity of 60,000 MT. Our zinc gluconate is produced via fermentation-based gluconic acid, meeting E579 (EU) and GB 8820 specifications.
Key Applications
Dietary Supplements & Nutraceuticals
Zinc gluconate is the dominant zinc form in the global OTC supplement market. It is the active ingredient in the majority of zinc lozenge brands, valued for its mild taste profile, high solubility, and ability to be formulated without binders that mask zinc bioavailability. Common supplement formats include: zinc lozenges (cold and immune support), multivitamin tablets, immune support capsules, effervescent drinks, and chewable vitamins for children.
Food Fortification
Food grade zinc gluconate is approved under E579 (EU), GRAS (USA), and Codex Alimentarius for use in: breakfast cereals, infant formula (alongside iron and calcium fortification), functional beverages, and meal replacement products. Its high solubility at neutral pH makes it compatible with liquid food systems where zinc oxide or carbonate would precipitate.
Animal Nutrition & Feed Grade
Feed grade zinc gluconate is used in premix formulations for poultry, swine, aquaculture, and ruminants. Zinc is essential for immune function, wound healing, and reproductive performance in livestock. Compared to zinc oxide (being phased out in the EU under restrictions), zinc gluconate offers better bioavailability at lower inclusion rates, reducing zinc output in manure. Our feed grade meets standard feed additive specifications and is compatible with FAMI-QS compliant supply chains.
Personal Care & Cosmetics
Zinc gluconate is used in cosmetic formulations at 0.1–0.5% for its sebum-regulating and anti-microbial properties. It appears in facial cleansers, anti-acne serums, and toners as a gentler alternative to zinc salicylate or sulfate. INCI name: Zinc Gluconate.
Product Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Assay (dried basis) | 97.0% – 103.0% |
| CAS Number | 4468-02-4 |
| Molecular Formula | C₁₂H₂₂O₁₄Zn |
| Molecular Weight | 455.70 |
| Appearance | White or nearly white crystalline powder |
| Zinc Content | ≥ 13.0% |
| Heavy Metals (as Pb) | ≤ 10 ppm |
| Lead | ≤ 2 ppm |
| Arsenic | ≤ 1 ppm |
| Loss on Drying | ≤ 0.5% |
| pH (5% solution) | 6.0 – 7.5 |
| Standard | E579 / GB 8820 / food-chemical spec on request |
| Packaging | 25 kg bags / 500 kg jumbo bags |
| MOQ | 25 kg (sample); bulk from 500 kg |
| Loading Port | FOB Qingdao |
Packaging & Supply
Standard packaging is 25 kg woven bags with PE liner or kraft paper bags. Jumbo bags (500 kg or 1,000 kg) are available for bulk orders. Supply ability is up to 2,000 MT per month, with lead time 7–14 days from order confirmation. FOB Qingdao; CIF available on request. Our warehouse stocks finished product year-round, enabling consistent delivery schedules for regular customers.
Quality & Compliance
WIS Biotech zinc gluconate is manufactured under ISO 9001 quality management and FSSC 22000 food safety systems. Each production batch is tested by our in-house QC laboratory and confirmed by third-party testing labs. Documentation available per shipment includes: Certificate of Analysis (COA), MSDS/SDS, Halal certificate (IFANCA, USA), Kosher certificate (OU), and country-of-origin declaration.
We supply food-grade and feed-grade only — our facility does not manufacture pharmaceutical injection-grade zinc gluconate, which avoids cross-contamination risk and maintains dedicated food safety protocols throughout the production line.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between zinc gluconate and zinc picolinate?
Both are highly bioavailable organic zinc forms. Zinc gluconate is more cost-effective, widely available, and is the regulatory-approved form for food fortification under E579 and GRAS. Zinc picolinate is used in premium supplement brands, often marketed for enhanced absorption, though head-to-head clinical data is mixed. For food-grade fortification applications, zinc gluconate is typically the correct specification.
What is the difference between zinc gluconate and zinc oxide?
Zinc oxide has higher elemental zinc content (80%+ vs 13% for gluconate) but poor solubility in neutral pH systems. Zinc gluconate is fully water-soluble and bioavailable without requiring acidic conditions. In feed applications, EU regulations have restricted zinc oxide use as a veterinary medicine; zinc gluconate is an alternative with better solubility for liquid and premix applications.
Is your zinc gluconate suitable for vegan products?
Yes. WIS Biotech zinc gluconate is manufactured via fermentation from glucose and contains no animal-derived raw materials. It is suitable for vegan and vegetarian certification. Halal (IFANCA) and Kosher (OU) certificates are available.
What is the MOQ for zinc gluconate?
Minimum order is 25 kg for sampling. Bulk pricing applies from 500 kg with volume pricing available for full container loads (FCL). Contact us for current pricing — zinc market prices are updated quarterly.
Do you export zinc gluconate to the USA and Europe?
Yes. We export zinc gluconate to the EU, UK, USA, India, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and over 80 countries. Our food-grade documentation aligns with Codex Alimentarius, EU E579, and Codex food-additive requirements. For US import, your import broker will handle FDA prior notice for food ingredient shipments.
Can you provide Halal and Kosher documentation?
Yes. Both Halal (IFANCA, USA) and Kosher (OU) certificates are provided per shipment on request. FSSC 22000 food safety certificate is also available.
Related Resources
Zinc gluconate is one of nine gluconate products manufactured by WIS Biotech. For context on the broader product range:
- Ferrous Gluconate — iron fortification for infant formula and cereals
- Copper Gluconate — trace mineral for premix and supplement systems
- Guide: Feed-Grade Gluconate from China — What Buyers Should Know
- Sourcing Gluconate from China: A Buyer’s Checklist
- For industrial sodium gluconate and PCE supply chain: Definly Chemicals — Industrial Sodium Gluconate
About WIS Biotech
WIS Biotech (Shandong Wisdomestry Biotech Co., Ltd.) is a gluconate manufacturer founded in 2015, located in Shanghe County, Jinan, Shandong, China. We operate a dedicated 10,000 m² food-grade production facility with ~60,000 MT annual gluconate capacity and export to 80+ countries. Our product scope covers the full gluconate series: sodium, calcium, ferrous, zinc, magnesium, potassium, copper gluconate, gluconic acid, GDL, and maltose — food grade and feed grade only.
WIS Biotech operates as part of a vertically integrated group with Definly Chemicals, our export trading partner specializing in PCE superplasticizers and construction chemical supply.
Contact us to request samples, a certificate of analysis, or a bulk quote: Contact WIS Biotech