Dairy
How to Read a COA for Milk Powder
Understand the key parameters on a milk powder COA so you can confirm quality before shipment.
28 April 2026 5 min read
A Certificate of Analysis (COA) confirms that a batch meets its specification. Knowing what to look for helps you verify quality before you accept a shipment.
Compositional parameters
- Fat and protein content (key for FCMP vs SMP)
- Moisture (affects shelf life and caking)
- Solubility index (how well it dissolves)
- Acidity / pH
Safety and microbiology
A COA typically reports microbiological results and confirms the batch is within safe limits. Always check the batch number matches your shipment and the issue date is recent.
Match COA to specification
Compare each value against the agreed product specification. If anything is outside spec, raise it before the goods load. Specifications and COA are confirmed per supplier and order.
Key takeaways
- Check fat, protein, moisture and solubility
- Confirm microbiology is within limits
- Match the batch number to your shipment
- Compare every value to the agreed specification
More reading
More on Dairy
Dairy
Buy Gouda and Mozzarella Cheese Wholesale from Europe
How importers, retailers and foodservice buyers purchase Gouda and Mozzarella cheese wholesale from Europe — formats, cold chain and pricing.
Dairy
Buy Butter, AMF and Butter Oil Wholesale from Europe
A buyer's guide to purchasing block butter, anhydrous milk fat (AMF) and butter oil wholesale from Europe — formats, handling and pricing.
Dairy
Buy Full Cream Milk Powder Wholesale: Prices, MOQ and Suppliers
What importers and food factories should know when buying full cream milk powder (FCMP) wholesale from Europe — grades, MOQ, packing and how pricing works.