Edible Maize Starch

About

What it is and where it shows up.

Edible maize starch is the purified starch extracted from the endosperm of corn (Zea mays L.), presenting as an odourless, white, free-flowing powder with no added colour, flavours, or other chemicals. It is widely used in food manufacturing as a thickener, binder, stabiliser, coating agent, and anti-caking agent in sauces, soups, confectionery, baked goods, and custard-type products.

Safety summary

The regulatory and scientific consensus.

Unmodified maize starch is considered safe for the general population; JECFA has assigned it an ADI of 'not specified', indicating no identified toxicological concern at typical dietary intake levels. It is a rapidly digestible, high-glycaemic-index carbohydrate, and individuals with diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance should moderate consumption. No IARC carcinogenicity classification exists for this ingredient, and it is not considered genotoxic or carcinogenic.

Regulatory landscape

What food-safety regulators have decided.

Jurisdiction	Status	Note
FSANZ (Food Standards Australia New Zealand) (Australia)	Approved	Maize starch is a permitted food ingredient under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. Modified starches derived from maize are permitted food additives with ADI 'not specified'. Unmodified maize starch has no usage restrictions beyond GMP.source
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union)	Approved	Unmodified maize starch is a conventional food ingredient in the EU, not classified as a food additive and therefore not assigned an E number. It is freely permitted under GMP as a food ingredient. Modified starches derived from maize (E 1404–E 1452) are separately regulated under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives.source
FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India)	Approved	Standardised under FSS Regulations Chapter 2.4.7 as 'Maize Starch (Corn Starch)'; must be odourless, white, free-flowing powder, free from added colours, flavours, or other chemicals, and free from dirt, insects, larvae, and impurities. Amendment effective 1 September 2023.source
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States)	Approved	Corn starch is affirmed as GRAS under 21 CFR 184.1315 (Direct Food Substances Affirmed as Generally Recognized as Safe) for direct human food use under Good Manufacturing Practice conditions, with no specified maximum intake limit.

Who should approach with care

Whose guidance would steer them away.

Diabetes — Maize starch is a rapidly digestible, high-glycaemic-index carbohydrate that can cause significant postprandial blood glucose spikes; individuals with diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance should moderate consumption and account for it in carbohydrate management.

Ibs — Large quantities of rapidly digestible starch may contribute to bloating, flatulence, and gastrointestinal discomfort in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome who are sensitive to high-starch or high-carbohydrate foods.

Infants — EFSA (2017) noted that available data do not allow adequate safety assessment of starch-based food additives for infants below 16 weeks of age; unmodified maize starch should be introduced to infant diets only at age-appropriate developmental stages and in accordance with paediatric dietary guidance.

Gluten Intolerance — Pure maize starch is naturally gluten-free; however, cross-contamination with wheat during processing is possible, and individuals with coeliac disease or non-coeliac gluten sensitivity should verify that the product is certified gluten-free before consumption.

Research citations

The sources behind this verdict.

1FDA. 21 CFR 184.1315 – Corn Starch (Direct Food Substances Affirmed as Generally Recognized as Safe). accessdata.fda.gov
2FDA. FDA Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) – Corn Starch. hfpappexternal.fda.gov
3FSSAI. Food Safety and Standards Regulations – Chapter 2.4.7: Maize Starch (FSS Cereal and Cereal Products Standards), 2023. fssai.gov.in
4EFSA. Re-evaluation of oxidised starch (E 1404), monostarch phosphate (E 1410), and 10 further modified starches as food additives, 2017. efsa.europa.eu
5other. JECFA Compendium of Food Additive Specifications – Starch, Unmodified (49th Session, 1997), 1997. fao.org

Independently researched5 citations