About
Dextrose is the food-grade name for D-glucose, a naturally occurring monosaccharide produced commercially by the enzymatic hydrolysis of corn (or other cereal) starch. It is used as a sweetener, bulking agent, fermentation substrate, humectant, and rapid energy source across a broad range of food, beverage, and pharmaceutical applications.
Safety summary
Dextrose is metabolised identically to endogenous blood glucose and is broadly recognised as safe; WHO/JECFA has not established a numerical ADI, treating it as a normal food constituent. However, its glycaemic index of approximately 100 causes rapid blood-glucose elevation, making it a meaningful concern for people with diabetes, pre-diabetes, or insulin resistance. Excessive habitual intake is also associated with dental caries, weight gain, and downstream cardiometabolic risk.
Regulatory landscape
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| FSANZ (Food Standards Australia New Zealand) (Australia) | Approved | Permitted as a food ingredient under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code; classified as a sugar/carbohydrate, not a food additive, so no numerical maximum level is mandated.source |
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Approved | Dextrose (D-glucose) is not assigned an E number and is not regulated as a food additive under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008; it is permitted as a food ingredient/sugar under general EU food law (Regulation (EC) No 178/2002) and is governed internationally by the Codex Standard for Sugars (CXS 212-1999).source |
| FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India) | Approved | Permitted as a food ingredient (glucose/dextrose) under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011; no maximum level specified beyond GMP.source |
| MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare) (Japan) | Approved | Dextrose (D-glucose) is permitted as a food ingredient/existing additive in Japan; classified as a sugar, not a designated food additive requiring individual approval.source |
Who should approach with care
Research citations
- 1FDA. 21 CFR Part 184.1857 – Dextrose (corn sugar) – Code of Federal Regulations Title 21. accessdata.fda.gov
- 2other. D-Glucose (Anhydrous Dextrose) – PubChem Compound Summary, CID 5793. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 3FDA. Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) – Dextrose, 2026. hfpappexternal.fda.gov
- 4WHO. Guideline: Sugars Intake for Adults and Children – World Health Organization (2015), 2015. who.int
- 5WHO. Codex Alimentarius Standard for Sugars (CXS 212-1999, last revised 2021), 1999. fao.org
