Ferrous Fumarate

The iron(II) salt of fumaric acid, supplying approximately 33 percent elemental iron with bioavailability comparable to Ferrous Sulfate and substantially better organoleptic and oxidative stability in finished foods. The dominant iron form in pediatric iron supplements, infant cereals, and dry-blended fortified foods.

Reddish-orange to brick-red odorless fine powder. Practically insoluble in water and freely soluble in dilute acids, which limits reactivity in the food matrix while preserving high gastric bioavailability.

We supply food-grade and pharmaceutical-grade Ferrous Fumarate from manufacturers in China holding ISO, FSSC 22000, Halal, Kosher, and other certifications relevant to the product and production.

Common market grades include Standard Food Grade for fortification and supplement use, USP/EP/JP/BP Pharmaceutical Grade for oral iron therapy, Direct-Compression Granulated grade for high-dose iron tablets, and ultrafine-milled grade for infant cereals and chewable formulations.

Bulk and reduced-MOQ shipments. Batch-level COA covering assay, iron content, ferric content, heavy metals, and microbiology.

Ferrous Fumarate is the iron(II) salt of fumaric acid, a four-carbon dicarboxylic acid that is a normal intermediate in the citric acid cycle. The fumarate counter-ion is itself metabolized as part of energy production, contributing no nutritional or regulatory concerns.

Industrial manufacture combines food-grade fumaric acid with iron metal or iron oxides under controlled reaction conditions, followed by drying and milling. The reddish-orange color is intrinsic to the ferrous-fumarate complex and is the visual identifier of the commercial product.

Regulated in the EU as an authorized source of iron for food supplements and food fortification under Regulation (EC) 1925/2006 and Directive 2002/46/EC, classified as Generally Recognized as Safe by the U.S. FDA under 21 CFR 184.1307a, listed in USP, EP, JP, and BP pharmacopoeias, and approved by JECFA under the iron group monograph.

Elemental iron content of approximately 33 percent matches Ferrous Sulfate monohydrate and is substantially higher than Ferrous Gluconate (12 percent). Published bioavailability studies report Ferrous Fumarate absorption equivalent to Ferrous Sulfate in healthy adults and children, making the two interchangeable on a delivered-iron basis.

The decisive advantage of Ferrous Fumarate is matrix compatibility. The poor water solubility that limits taste and oxidation problems in the food matrix does not limit bioavailability, because dissolution in gastric acid is rapid and complete. This combination of high elemental iron, high bioavailability, and low reactivity makes Ferrous Fumarate the preferred fortificant in infant cereals, dry-blended fortified foods, and chewable supplements where Ferrous Sulfate would cause color drift, rancidity, or off-flavor.

The strategic position is application-driven rather than cost-driven. Bulk flour fortification remains Ferrous Sulfate territory; pediatric and dry-matrix premium fortification is overwhelmingly Ferrous Fumarate.

• Pediatric iron supplements: chewable tablets, drops, and gummies
• Infant cereals and toddler nutrition products; the standard iron form in this category globally
• Pharmaceutical iron-deficiency-anemia therapy in adults: tablets and capsules
• Iron fortification of breakfast cereals, breads, and baby foods where Ferrous Sulfate would cause color or oxidation problems
• Prenatal vitamin and multivitamin formulations
• Functional foods and meal-replacement mineral premix component
• Animal feed iron source where palatability and stability matter
• Nutritional bars and dry-blended fortified beverage powders