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What Do You Think About Modified Food Starch And Modified Corn Starch? Is It Good, Bad Or Ugly?

laurericcharlie

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laurericcharlie Newbie
laurericcharlie
Posted

I seem to get heartburn, when I drink certain flavors of gatorade that have modified food starch. Anyone know more about this, I just recently learned that grain distilled vinegar is alright (ketchup, mustard, mayo, salad dressings etc..., that has been a great relief!

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CarlaB Enthusiast
CarlaB
Posted

Gatorade is gluten-free, so it must be something else about it giving you the trouble. Citric acid maybe? Sugar? Corn syrup?

laurericcharlie Newbie
laurericcharlie
Posted
  • Author

So are you saying that mod. food starch is ok?

Gatorade is gluten-free, so it must be something else about it giving you the trouble. Citric acid maybe? Sugar? Corn syrup?
happygirl Collaborator
happygirl
Posted

Modified corn starch is always safe.

Modified Food Starch is safe if it doesn't list wheat after it. Wheat is required to be listed and not hidden by FDA law.

Gatorade is gluten free, so it probably is something else in it that is bothering you.

psawyer Proficient
psawyer
Posted

"Modified" in this sense means partially processed. Nothing is added, but some of the chemical structure is broken down. Corn starch is gluten-free to begin with. If the source is wheat, it must be clearly disclosed under US law. I have never, ever, heard of rye or barley being used to make modified starch. In North America, modified food starch is usually corn, but could also be potato, rice or tapioca.

missnbagels Explorer
missnbagels
Posted

I have heard so many things about modified food starch. Help a newbie out. I AM SO CONFUSED ! Is it safe or what?

It is in everything so i really need to know if i can have it or not.

happygirl Collaborator
happygirl
Posted
Modified Food Starch is safe if it doesn't list wheat after it. Wheat is required to be listed and not hidden by FDA law.
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kbabe1968 Enthusiast
kbabe1968
Posted

I know US labelling laws say it must be labelled...BUT I have to say if it's modified FOOD starch - I ALWAYS get sick, but if it's Modified Corn Starch, I do okay. I wonder if there's another additive when they use MFS vs. MCS that makes the difference?

I do avoid MFS, but I'm not sure that I HAVE to...it's just something I've noticed for ME.

Of course, I never react to Gatorade....mine doesn't have MFS on the label...are you talking about a powdered version?

missnbagels Explorer
missnbagels
Posted

I know what you mean. I react to MFS but not to MCS. But also i am a little confused because sometimes i am fine with MFS products. Could i still be reacting to it and just not know it? That's why i ask about MFS because i have read on many websites that its fine and then i have also read that you need to check the background behind the company. That's why i need some advice Please.

  • 2 weeks later...
DonnaD777-777 Newbie
DonnaD777-777
Posted
I seem to get heartburn, when I drink certain flavors of gatorade that have modified food starch. Anyone know more about this, I just recently learned that grain distilled vinegar is alright (ketchup, mustard, mayo, salad dressings etc..., that has been a great relief!

I react heavily with grain distilled vinegar. I have had to switch to gluten free mustard, mayo, salad dressing, and anything that say vinegar on it unless it states applecider vinegar or balsamic vinegar. You might not react...but i am very, very sensitive to a mild does of gluten. I'm curious as to where you learned that?

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted
I know US labelling laws say it must be labelled...BUT I have to say if it's modified FOOD starch - I ALWAYS get sick, but if it's Modified Corn Starch, I do okay. I wonder if there's another additive when they use MFS vs. MCS that makes the difference?

I do avoid MFS, but I'm not sure that I HAVE to...it's just something I've noticed for ME.

Of course, I never react to Gatorade....mine doesn't have MFS on the label...are you talking about a powdered version?

I know what you mean. I react to MFS but not to MCS. But also i am a little confused because sometimes i am fine with MFS products. Could i still be reacting to it and just not know it? That's why i ask about MFS because i have read on many websites that its fine and then i have also read that you need to check the background behind the company. That's why i need some advice Please.

Another thing you both might want to consider--you may be reacting to something else in a particular food. Some companies are better at preventing the risk of cross contamination than others. I know, for instance, I can use products from Kraft with no problems (so far, and it's been over 2 years)

Some of the smaller, more specialized companies seem to be actually more prone to cross contamination between lines or runs. Amy's comes to mind, but there are others--like Lay's, to name a larger company that people report problems with.

As you get into this, you will become aware of which companies/products give you problems and which don't. Unfortunately, there's no pat answer as to why we can react to one food over another--given that we're aware of the gluten status.

Some people (like me) find that we develop other food intolerances after going gluten-free. Things like sugar, and other additives can become problimatic to our healing system.

MFS has to be labelled as such if it is from wheat :)

Fiddle-Faddle Community Regular
Fiddle-Faddle
Posted
I seem to get heartburn, when I drink certain flavors of gatorade that have modified food starch. Anyone know more about this, I just recently learned that grain distilled vinegar is alright (ketchup, mustard, mayo, salad dressings etc..., that has been a great relief!

Is there any possibility that the flavors that bother you happen to have more acidity than the others?

The best I can suggest is that you keep track of which products make you react (if you do react). While the labeling laws are very clear, it seems as though some ingredients at the bottom of the chain might come from suppliers outside the US, and there might be mix-ups, translation confusion, etc.

I have found this to be especially true at Dollar Stores, where there are many foreign-made food products, including occasional "copycat" products that have phony labeling and packaging to mimic well-known brand names, such as Colgate toothpaste. I also still see the occasional product at the Asian store that does not have the required labeling.

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