α - lactosamine hydrochloride , substantially free of β - lactosamine hydrochloride ; a method of preparing α - lactosamine hydrochloride monohydrate from an anomeric mixture of lactosamine hydrochloride , including : preparing a solution including the anomeric mixture of lactosamine hydrochloride , water and at least one water - miscible organic solvent at a temperature of 0 - 100 ° c ., and cooling the solution to cause crystallisation of α - lactosamine hydrochloride monohydrate ; a method of preparing anhydrous α - lactosamine hydrochloride ; and use of α - lactosamine hydrochloride as a food supplement or intermediate in synthesis .