5-HTP Gummy Manufacturer for Retail-Ready Brands

Our Guangdong plant runs four depositing lines for 5-HTP gummies, with a combined output of 2.5 million pieces per day across two shifts. Standard piece weights are 2.5 g, 3.0 g and 4.0 g. Retail bottling runs from 30-count to 120-count PET or HDPE bottles, with induction seals, child-resistant caps and desiccant options. We also produce 10-count and 20-count sachets and stick packs for travel and subscription formats. Bottle filling, capping, labelling and shrink-banding are handled in-house, which keeps lead times at 20-35 working days for most orders.

For brands launching multiple SKUs, we schedule 5-HTP alongside melatonin, ashwagandha, elderberry and multivitamin gummies on the same lines. Changeover and cleaning procedures follow an allergen and cross-contact control plan, with dedicated tooling for vegan and gelatin runs. If your order is below 1,000 units, we can quote a pilot batch from 1,000 units so you can test shelf life, taste and packaging before committing to a full run.

5-HTP degrades when exposed to heat above 70°C, moisture and UV light. We use a low-temperature depositing process and control the syrup cook to protect the active. For vegan SKUs, a pectin base with a buffered pH between 3.2 and 3.6 gives a firm bite and a 24-month shelf life in a sealed bottle. Gelatin bases at 3.0 g offer a chewier texture and slightly faster drying. Typical overage is 5-15% above label claim, set by your stability data rather than a fixed rule.

Flavour systems are built to mask the slightly bitter, earthy note of 5-HTP. Common profiles are mixed berry, mango, orange, grape and tart cherry. We can add vitamin B6, magnesium glycinate, L-theanine, chamomile or lemon balm to a 5-HTP gummy, provided total active load stays under 15% of piece weight. Sweeteners include cane sugar, glucose syrup, allulose, stevia, monk fruit and erythritol. Colours can be natural (beetroot, spirulina, carrot) or synthetic, depending on your market.

Every 5-HTP gummy batch is tested for assay, uniformity of dosage units, moisture, water activity, microbial limits, heavy metals and disintegration. We hold GMP, ISO 22000 and HACCP certifications, and can produce under halal or vegan programmes when the formula and supply chain support it. Our facility is FDA-registered for dietary supplements, which allows US importers to file prior notice without a third-party registration step.

Documentation for each order includes certificate of analysis, specification sheet, allergen statement, nutritional panel, ingredient certificates and, where required, halal certificates. We ship FOB Shenzhen or Yantian, with air freight for samples and sea freight for full containers. Typical ocean transit is 18-30 days to US west coast, 25-35 days to EU and UK ports, and 12-20 days to Jebel Ali. We can also arrange DDP for first orders if your team prefers a landed-cost quote.

Every 5-HTP gummy batch is sampled at three points: incoming raw material, post-cooking pre-drying, and finished packaged goods. 5-HTP identity is confirmed by HPLC against a certified reference standard, with potency expressed as mg per gummy. Microbial testing covers total aerobic count, yeast and mould, E. coli, Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus. Heavy metals (lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury) are tested per batch to ICP-MS. Disintegration testing follows USP <2040> for gummies, with a target of complete disintegration within 30 minutes in purified water at 37°C.

The certificate of analysis (COA) issued with each batch lists batch number, production date, expiry date, 5-HTP assay result, microbial results, heavy metal results, disintegration time, appearance, pH and moisture content. We retain samples from every batch for the full shelf life plus six months, stored at 25°C/60% RH and 30°C/65% RH. Stability protocols run at 0, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months, with accelerated conditions at 40°C/75% RH for three months to flag early degradation. Potency loss above 10% at any interval triggers a formulation review before the next production run.

For 5-HTP specifically, oxidation is the main risk. We monitor peroxide value in the oil phase and include nitrogen flushing during cooking where the formula includes oils. Colour and texture are checked against a retained reference sample under D65 lighting. Any batch outside the agreed specification is held, not released, and the buyer is notified with the deviation report and proposed rework or rejection. Documentation is provided in English as standard, with Arabic or other language versions available on request for Middle East markets.

5-HTP gummies are packed in HDPE bottles (60, 90, 120 or 180 count) with induction seals and child-resistant caps where required, or in blister packs, stick packs and single-serve sachets. Bottle dimensions and label placement are confirmed at sample stage so the label fits without wrinkling. We can print lot numbers and expiry dates in inkjet or laser coding on the bottle base, label and carton. Cartons are specified with dimensions, gross weight and barcode placement agreed before production.

For US-bound product, labels must include the supplement facts panel, serving size, amount per serving, other ingredients, allergen statement, and the manufacturer/distributor address. We prepare print-ready artwork from your copy and check it against FDA 21 CFR 101 requirements before plate making. For EU and UK, we check nutrition and health claims against the GB/EU register and flag any claim that needs substantiation. Amazon FNSKU labels, polybag suffocation warnings and carton weight limits are applied on request. Pallet specifications are 1,200 x 1,000 mm or 1,200 x 800 mm, stretch-wrapped and corner-boarded, with a maximum height of 1.8 m for sea freight.

Retail-ready packaging can include a tamper-evident band, a QR code linking to your certificate of analysis, and a batch-specific expiry date printed at filling. We do not print claims such as 'clinically proven' unless you supply the supporting study reference. Artwork approval is a formal step: once signed, changes to label copy after plate making incur a plate fee and may add three to five working days to the schedule.

The standard MOQ for 5-HTP gummies is 1,000 units per SKU for market testing. Samples take 7 to 10 working days after formula and artwork confirmation, including courier time to most destinations. Mass production runs 20 to 35 working days after sample approval, depending on bottle and carton lead times. Repeat orders with unchanged specifications typically sit at the lower end of that window.

We ship under EXW, FOB Shenzhen or Hong Kong, and DDP for select destinations. Air freight is used for pilot runs and urgent replenishment, typically 5 to 8 days door to door. Sea freight is used for full pallets, typically 25 to 35 days to US West Coast and 30 to 40 days to EU ports. We provide commercial invoice, packing list, COA, MSDS, free-sale certificate and, where required, phytosanitary or halal certificates. DDP quotes include duties and delivery to your named address, with the importer of record confirmed before booking.

For first orders, we recommend a pilot run of 1,000 to 5,000 units to validate label compliance and consumer feedback before committing to a full pallet. Payment terms are 30% deposit with balance against copy of bill of lading, or LC at sight for orders above USD 30,000. We do not guarantee delivery dates until the deposit and approved artwork are received, because label plate making and bottle lead times are the main variables.