What Is Maltodextrin

[jennyj]

I was looking up ingredients in some Schwan's foods and several mentioned maltodextrin, I am assuming(oops) that it is malt made from barley and it is a no-no. Am I correct??

[penguin]

Maltodextrin is made from corn. The "malt" in the word is a misnomer and has nothing to do with malt at all.

[gfp]

Maltodextrin is made from corn.

This only applies to the US, elsewhere it is made from barley or wheat... or more or less any starchy vegetable.

The "malt" in the word is a misnomer and has nothing to do with malt at all.

That depends, malting is the process of allowing a cereal to geminate and then drying it .

They are formed by enzymatic degradation of starch by certain bacteria, for example Bacillus macerans.

[jennyj]

So can we eat it???? If we don't have corn intolerance.

[gfp]

So can we eat it???? If we don't have corn intolerance.

If you are in the US then yes....

If you are elsewhere then it depends what it is made from.

[jennyj]

If you are in the US then yes....

If you are elsewhere then it depends what it is made from.

Thank you very much.

[Michi8]

If you are in the US then yes....

If you are elsewhere then it depends what it is made from.

I believe it applies to Canada as well.

[gfp]

I believe it applies to Canada as well.

I believe the same but I alsways think caution is better

[psawyer]

Maltodextrin is safe in both Canada and in the US. For sure.

[jennyj]

Yippie

[lovegrov]

Products sold in the U.S. CAN contain maltodextrin from wheat, but it must be clearly labeled so. It will say something liek "maltodextrin from wheat" or "wheat maltodextrin."

richard

[tiredofdoctors]

Hi Richard! When I saw the question -- which I have also questioned but was too afraid to ask about -- then saw your name, I KNEW you would have the answer! Thanks!!!!! Lynne

[KaitiUSA]

Yep, safe in the US unless it says otherwise.

[LyndaK]

Is it always from corn if in the US? Could it ever be from rice?

[LyndaK]

Another question....

What about dextrin and dextrose? I have been advoiding these items with the fear that they are from wheat and maybe also rice. Are these from corn too if done in the US?

[LonelyWolf307]

Just one specification; I've heard it's only maltodextrin in foods that is regulated, and is always from corn unless otherwise specified. Meaning things like medications with maltodextrin as fillers aren't necessarily gluten-free, to my knowledge. Might want to look out for things like that. Personally I try to avoid any processed foods at all, save things like rice flours, and do all my own cooking just to avoid cross-contamination issues. Plus it's a whole lot healthier that way.

[spunky]

I remember reading that if it's dextrin, you have to find out what it's made from--could be from a gluten grain or any other. It's such a hassle, I just avoid anything that says dextrin.

Not sure about dextrose.

[gfp]

Just one specification; I've heard it's only maltodextrin in foods that is regulated, and is always from corn unless otherwise specified. Meaning things like medications with maltodextrin as fillers aren't necessarily gluten-free, to my knowledge. Might want to look out for things like that. Personally I try to avoid any processed foods at all, save things like rice flours, and do all my own cooking just to avoid cross-contamination issues. Plus it's a whole lot healthier that way.

Yes but I think on the whole the whole dextrine and dextrose lines are made from corn and there is probably only a couple of factories making it in very large quantities ... I know before the regualtion it was "accidentally" only from corn and I think this is just an economic fact.... its cheaper to make additives when you do so in bulk... and start with the same process... and largely these additives are made with byproducts anyway.... that is the starting ingredients have zero cost or even negative cost... (i.e. companies producing these as byproducts probably pay to have them taken away.... or at least give them away.) because the raw material for this is corn starch which is pretty much a byproduct anyway...

just my 2c... being in Europe I don't have the luxury of any dextrine or dextrose products unless they specifically say corn or rice or potato etc.!