DHA Algal Oil Powder (Schizochytrium sp.) — Vegan Omega-3 Bulk B2B Supplier
DHA algal oil powder is a spray-dried omega-3 ingredient made from the oil of the marine microalga Schizochytrium sp., standardised to DHA not less than 20% and supplied as a water-soluble, light-yellow powder. Because the DHA comes from algae rather than fish — and because the powder is emulsified on arabic gum rather than milk-derived sodium caseinate — it is genuinely vegan, dairy-free and allergen-free. It is produced in bulk for B2B and OEM formulators by Bionutricia Extract (Bionutricia Manufacturing Sdn Bhd) in Malaysia, with a Certificate of Analysis on every lot.
Quick facts for formulators
- Biological source / part: Schizochytrium sp., whole microalga
- DHA content: not less than 20% (stated per lot on the COA)
- Emulsifier: arabic gum — no sodium caseinate, no synthetic emulsifier
- Description: spray-dried powder from algal oil
- Form / colour / odour: non free-flowing powder, light yellow, characteristic
- Moisture: < 8% · Solubility: soluble in water · Fineness: > 95% through 20 mesh
- Dosage: 2–8%
- Pack sizes: 1 kg · 5 kg · 20 kg
- Facility certifications: FSSC 22000 · GMP · HACCP · MeSTI · US FDA registered · COA per lot
- Clean label: vegan, dairy-free, no Annex II allergens, non-GMO, gluten-free (<20 ppm), not irradiated, not a novel food
- Shelf life: 24 months sealed, cool & dry · Origin: Malaysia
- Heavy metals: As <1 · Pb <1 · Cd <1 · Hg <0.1 ppm
What is DHA algal oil powder?
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a long-chain omega-3 fatty acid. Most of the world's commercial DHA is obtained from fish oil, which carries three practical problems for a formulator: it is an animal-derived material, it brings a marine odour and oxidation profile with it, and it is a liquid oil that has to be encapsulated or emulsified before it can go into a dry format.
Schizochytrium sp. is a marine microalga that produces DHA directly — in fact it is the organism at the base of the marine food chain from which fish accumulate their DHA in the first place. Growing the alga under controlled fermentation and taking the oil from it removes the fish from the supply chain entirely.
Bionutricia's contribution is the next step: converting that algal oil into a stable, water-dispersible powder. The oil is emulsified and spray-dried into a light-yellow powder that is more than 95% through 20 mesh, keeps for 24 months sealed, and can be weighed, blended and dosed like any other dry ingredient. That conversion is covered by Bionutricia's granted process patent MY-188945-A, "Process for Preparing Nutritional Powder Extract".
Why the emulsifier matters more than buyers expect
The industry-default carrier for oil powders is sodium caseinate — and sodium caseinate is milk-derived. That single choice has three consequences a brand owner inherits: it becomes a declarable Annex II allergen, it eliminates any vegan or dairy-free claim on the finished product, and it complicates halal review because the material is animal-derived.
Bionutricia emulsifies its entire oil-powder range on arabic gum instead. No sodium caseinate, no synthetic emulsifiers. That is the reason this powder can be offered as vegan, dairy-free and free of Annex II allergens at all — and on an algal DHA specifically, it is the difference between a genuinely plant-based omega-3 ingredient and one that only looks plant-based until you read the carrier.
Where is it used in formulation?
DHA algal oil powder is dosed at 2–8% and used as a bulk raw ingredient across dry and wet systems. Because it is water-soluble and free-flowing enough to blend, it goes into applications a liquid fish oil cannot reach: dry sachets and stick packs, powdered beverages and shakes, bakery and cereal systems, plant-based dairy alternatives, confectionery, and conventional supplement formats. Constant stirring is needed when it is dispersed into water, which keeps the dispersion even.
Bionutricia supplies the bulk ingredient for B2B formulation; brand owners and manufacturers formulate it into their chosen finished format — capsules, tablets, softgels, gummies, sachets, functional beverages, bakery or dairy — according to their own product design and market.
Typical specification
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Biological source / part | Schizochytrium sp., whole microalga |
| Description | Spray-dried powder from algal oil |
| DHA | Not less than 20% (per-lot figure on the COA) |
| Emulsifier / carrier | Arabic gum (no sodium caseinate) |
| Appearance / colour | Non free-flowing powder, light yellow |
| Odour | Characteristic |
| Moisture | < 8% |
| Solubility | Soluble in water |
| Fineness | > 95% through 20 mesh |
| Dosage | 2–8% |
| Heavy metals | As < 1 ppm, Pb < 1 ppm, Cd < 1 ppm, Hg < 0.1 ppm |
| Microbial (APC, Y&M, coliform, E. coli) | APC < 10⁴ cfu/g, Y&M < 10³ cfu/g, coliforms < 10² cfu/g, E. coli absent (1 g) |
| Clean label | Vegan, dairy-free, non-GMO, gluten-free (<20 ppm), not irradiated, not a novel food, no Annex II allergens |
| Facility certifications | FSSC 22000, GMP, HACCP, MeSTI, US FDA registered |
| Shelf life | 24 months sealed, cool & dry |
| Pack sizes | 1 kg, 5 kg, 20 kg |
| Country of origin | Malaysia |
Algal DHA versus fish-oil DHA — what actually changes for a brand
| Consideration | Fish-oil DHA | Bionutricia algal DHA powder |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Marine fish | Schizochytrium sp. microalga |
| Vegan / vegetarian claim | Not available | Available |
| Fish allergen | Declarable | Not present |
| Physical form | Liquid oil | Free-flowing dry powder |
| Emulsifier in powdered versions | Commonly sodium caseinate (milk-derived) | Arabic gum |
| Dry-format compatibility | Requires encapsulation | Direct blending, 2–8% |
Why source DHA algal oil powder from Bionutricia?
Bionutricia Extract has manufactured standardised botanical and nutritional powders in Malaysia since 2006, under FSSC 22000, GMP, HACCP, MeSTI and US FDA registration, issuing a Certificate of Analysis on every production lot. The oil-powder range — including this algal DHA powder — is emulsified exclusively on arabic gum, which is what allows the vegan, dairy-free and allergen-free position to hold all the way down to the carrier. Spray-drying is performed under the granted process patent MY-188945-A. Bulk OEM, custom standardisation and contract spray-drying and packing are available to brand owners and manufacturers.
Frequently asked questions
Is it suitable for vegan and vegetarian formulations? Yes. The DHA is produced by Schizochytrium sp. rather than extracted from fish, and the carrier is arabic gum rather than milk-derived sodium caseinate, so the product is free of any animal products or derivatives.
What emulsifier is used? Arabic gum. Bionutricia does not use sodium caseinate or synthetic emulsifiers anywhere in its oil-powder range.
What is the DHA content? The house specification sets DHA at not less than 20%; the figure for a given consignment is stated on that lot's Certificate of Analysis.
Is it water-soluble? Yes — soluble in water. Constant stirring is needed when dispersing it into water to keep the dispersion even.
What finished formats can it go into? Bionutricia supplies the bulk ingredient for B2B formulation; brand owners and manufacturers formulate it into their chosen finished format. Dosed at 2–8% in supplements, beverages, bakery, dairy alternatives, confectionery and culinary applications.
Allergens and gluten? No Annex II allergens present; gluten-free below 20 ppm; non-GMO; not irradiated; not a novel food under EC 258/97.
Pack sizes & MOQ? 1 kg / 5 kg / 20 kg. MOQ and tiered pricing on quotation; paid samples for serious B2B enquiries.
Storage & shelf life? Sealed hygienic containers, cool and dry, away from pest infestation; 2 years (24 months) properly stored.
