About
Potato starch is a fine white powder extracted from the cells of potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum), consisting primarily of amylose and amylopectin polysaccharides. It is widely used in food manufacturing as a natural thickening, gelling, and stabilising agent in soups, sauces, baked goods, and processed foods.
Safety summary
Potato starch is broadly recognised as safe with no established Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) required by any major regulatory authority. It has a high glycaemic index and may cause rapid postprandial blood glucose elevation, warranting caution in individuals with diabetes or insulin resistance. At high doses, fermentable resistant starch fractions may cause mild gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating or flatulence in sensitive individuals.
Regulatory landscape
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Approved | Native potato starch is approved as a food ingredient without an E-number. Modified starch derivatives from potato (e.g., E 1404, E 1410, E 1412, E 1413, E 1414, E 1420, E 1422, E 1440, E 1442, E 1450, E 1451) are authorised food additives under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008. The 2017 EFSA ANS Panel re-evaluation concluded no safety concern at reported use levels and no need for a numerical ADI for the general population; specific risk assessment for infants under 12 weeks is ongoing.source |
| FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India) | Approved | Potato starch is recognised under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. Starch-based food products are categorised under FSSAI Category 15.1 (snacks — potato, cereal, flour or starch based). Enzyme-treated starch is separately listed as INS 1405.source |
| FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States) | Approved | Potato starch is recognised as a natural food ingredient under FDA CPG Sec 578.100, which mandates source labelling (e.g., 'potato starch') for all non-corn starches. Chemically modified forms are regulated as food additives under 21 CFR 172.892 ('food starch-modified').source |
Who should approach with care
Research citations
- 1FSSAI. Food Product Categories used for Licensing/Registration by FSSAI (FoSCoS Compiled Appendix A). foscos.fssai.gov.in
- 2FDA. Food Additive Status List, 2026. fda.gov
- 3EFSA. Call for scientific and technical data on the permitted food additives: modified starches (E 1404–E 1452), 2024. food.ec.europa.eu
- 4FDA. CPG Sec 578.100 Starches – Common or Usual Names, 2018. fda.gov
- 5EFSA. Re-evaluation of oxidised starch (E 1404), monostarch phosphate (E 1410), distarch phosphate (E 1412), phosphated distarch phosphate (E 1413), acetylated distarch phosphate (E 1414), acetylated starch (E 1420), acetylated distarch adipate (E 1422), hydroxypropyl starch (E 1440), hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate (E 1442), starch sodium octenyl succinate (E 1450), acetylated oxidised starch (E 1451) and starch aluminium octenyl succinate (E 1452) as food additives, 2017. efsa.europa.eu