Starch | whatsinit

About

What it is and where it shows up.

Starch is a naturally occurring polysaccharide composed of glucose units (amylose and amylopectin), extracted from sources such as corn, wheat, potato, tapioca, and rice; it is used widely in foods as a thickener, stabilizer, binder, and texturizing agent. Chemically or physically modified forms (designated E1404–E1452 in the EU) are employed as food additives for improved viscosity, stability, and processing performance.

Safety summary

The regulatory and scientific consensus.

Native starch is broadly regarded as safe (GRAS) by the FDA with a long pre-1958 history of use, and EFSA's 2017 re-evaluation found no safety concern and no need for a numerical ADI for modified starches in the general population. Data gaps were identified by EFSA regarding modified starch safety for infants below 16 weeks of age, prompting a 2024 European Commission data call. Individuals with diabetes should exercise caution because rapidly digestible starches raise postprandial blood glucose, and those with coeliac disease or cereal allergy should check the botanical source of the starch.

Regulatory landscape

What food-safety regulators have decided.

Jurisdiction	Status	Note
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union)	Approved	Modified starches (E1404–E1452) are permitted food additives under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008. EFSA's 2017 re-evaluation of E1404–E1452 concluded no safety concern for the general population and no numerical ADI is required. A 2024 European Commission data call addresses remaining safety data gaps for use in infant and young children's foods (category 13.1).source
FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India)	Approved	Starch (INS No. 1405) was approved by FSSAI under FSS (Approval for Non-Specified Food and Food Ingredients) Regulations, 2017 (Order No. 20/Std/PA/FSSAI/2019, effective 15.01.2020). Native starch is also listed in FSSAI Appendix A as a permitted additive at up to 1% m/m in thermally processed fruits.source
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States)	Approved	Native starch is GRAS based on common use in food prior to 1958 under 21 CFR 170.30(c); modified food starches are regulated under 21 CFR 172.892 and individual forms (e.g., distarch phosphate) have received GRAS notices. No maximum daily intake is established; use is governed by Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).source

Who should approach with care

Whose guidance would steer them away.

Diabetes — Rapidly digestible starches (high glycemic index) can cause significant postprandial blood glucose spikes in individuals with diabetes or insulin resistance, necessitating portion control and preference for low-GI resistant starch forms.

Infants — EFSA's 2017 and 2020 opinions identified data gaps in the safety assessment of modified starches (E1404–E1452) for infants below 16 weeks of age, and the European Commission issued a 2024 call for toxicological data to address this concern.

Gluten Intolerance — Wheat-derived starch may contain trace levels of gluten; EFSA specifically noted that consumption of barley starch is unlikely to cause adverse reactions in coeliac individuals only when gluten content does not exceed the 20 mg/kg 'gluten-free' threshold.

Ibs — Resistant and poorly absorbed starches ferment in the colon and may exacerbate bloating, gas, and altered bowel habits in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome, particularly those following a low-FODMAP diet.

Research citations

The sources behind this verdict.

1FDA. Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS). fda.gov
2FDA. GRAS Notice 000663 – Distarch Phosphate Modified Food Starch. fda.gov
3other. Call for scientific and technical data on the permitted food additives: modified starches (E1404, E1410, E1412, E1413, E1414, E1420, E1422, E1440, E1442, E1451 and E1452), 2024. food.ec.europa.eu
4FSSAI. List of product(s)/ingredient(s) applications Approved under Food Safety and Standards (Approval for Non-Specified Food and Food Ingredients) Regulations, 2017, 2023. fssai.gov.in
5EFSA. Scientific Opinion on barley starch to be used in the manufacturing of several foods as ingredient, of the food additive modified starch and of glucose syrups, 2020. efsa.europa.eu

Independently researched6 citations