Jump to content
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Is Maltodextrin Safe?


ScarlettsMommy

Recommended Posts

ScarlettsMommy Explorer

What is it and can I have it. I see different opinions and can never seem to get a straight answer. It is in the Season All that I put on my cheeseburger when cooking it. I know its in tons of other things to. What about Vitamin E? I heard Vitamin E either? That was in my hand lotion.


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



psawyer Proficient

USA Code of Federal Regulations

Sec. 184.1444 Maltodextrin

CAS Reg. No. 9050-36-6. It is a nonsweet nutritive saccharide polymer that consists of D-glucose units linked primarily by [alpha]-1-4 bonds and has a dextrose equivalent (DE) of less than 20. It is prepared as a white powder or concentrated solution by partial hydrolysis of cornstarch, potato starch or rice starch with safe and suitable acids and enzymes.

Open Original Shared Link

Note: FDA also permits the use of other starches including wheat. For example, if wheat is used it must be labeled "wheat maltodextrin". But if you just see the single word "maltodextrin" it is from one of the specified sources, all of which are gluten-free.

You may have been warned about "malt." Well, be wary of anything containing the word "malt." Unless otherwise stated, they are from barley. But other things containing the letters m-a-l-t inside a word are safe.

ScarlettsMommy Explorer

thank you!!!

lovegrov Collaborator

Safe.

richard

Nisey Newbie

Now, I am confused! I was told NO maltodextrin! If it did not say corn or potato, then it was wheat. So...who's right? I just chose to stay away. This is my first post and I have noticed that nobody mentions to "gluten-free newbys" that they have look into EVERYTHING! Some "newcomers" to this LIFESTYLE do not realize that they have to stay away from some condiments, sauces, soups, additives,spices,vitamins, etc. (the list goes on, right!) ;) Some believe if they just stay away from bread and pasta they will be OK. What is the best place for them to get some internet information? I have had 4 friends go gluten-free since my journey began and I take them shopping (for hours) to get them started and aquainted. Any other info that may be helpful would be greatly appreciated!! THANK YOU!

IrishHeart Veteran

Now, I am confused! I was told NO maltodextrin! If it did not say corn or potato, then it was wheat. So...who's right? I just chose to stay away. This is my first post and I have noticed that nobody mentions to "gluten-free newbys" that they have look into EVERYTHING! Some "newcomers" to this LIFESTYLE do not realize that they have to stay away from some condiments, sauces, soups, additives,spices,vitamins, etc. (the list goes on, right!) ;) Some believe if they just stay away from bread and pasta they will be OK. What is the best place for them to get some internet information? I have had 4 friends go gluten-free since my journey began and I take them shopping (for hours) to get them started and aquainted. Any other info that may be helpful would be greatly appreciated!! THANK YOU!

Who told you maltodextrin was not safe? Maybe you can inform them that it is safe.

Actually, we have an excellent guide for newcomers, in the "Frequently Asked Questions" Section. There is a list of safe and unsafe products there.

https://www.celiac.com/celiac-faq/

kareng Grand Master

Now, I am confused! I was told NO maltodextrin! If it did not say corn or potato, then it was wheat. So...who's right? I just chose to stay away. This is my first post and I have noticed that nobody mentions to "gluten-free newbys" that they have look into EVERYTHING! Some "newcomers" to this LIFESTYLE do not realize that they have to stay away from some condiments, sauces, soups, additives,spices,vitamins, etc. (the list goes on, right!) ;) Some believe if they just stay away from bread and pasta they will be OK. What is the best place for them to get some internet information? I have had 4 friends go gluten-free since my journey began and I take them shopping (for hours) to get them started and aquainted. Any other info that may be helpful would be greatly appreciated!! THANK YOU!

In the US, which I believe the OP is, wheat must be listed if its an ingredient. Potato and corn don't have to be.


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



lovegrov Collaborator

If you're in the U.S., then you have things completely reversed. If it IS wheat, it will say so, which is VERY, VERY rare. If it doesn't say wheat, then it's something else and safe, which is nearly always.

richard

psawyer Proficient

Nisey, I posted above the exact regulation regarding the ingredient "maltodextrin" as a single word, and included a link to the FDA website where the source can be verified.

In the US, if just says maltodextrin, the only possible sources are corn, potato or rice. Corn is the most common.

BabsV Enthusiast

But if you are in Europe as I am maltodextrin is most often made from wheat but not necessarily labeled as such (I haven't found it labeled that way here in Poland!) Just to confuse us, right?!?!

My understanding is some EU rules should go into effect in 2012 about food labeling for gluten but I'm not sure if that is actually going to happen or not. And when they say contains gluten they mean more than 20 PPM...less than that not required to be labeled. Unless I was given incorrect information.

Reading labels is my new adventure. Or at least that is what I tell myself. So I don't cry from frustration at the grocery store. Ahem.

IrishHeart Veteran

Reading labels is my new adventure. Or at least that is what I tell myself. So I don't cry from frustration at the grocery store. Ahem.

Oh Babs, I can only imagine your frustration, yet you have been doing so well, though! Traveling to Greece, etc!

I am mightily impressed. :)

You may need to write an article, describing your ,ahem, "adventures".... as a "Celiac Abroad", yes? ;)

IH

Di2011 Enthusiast

I'm struggling to find the Australian regulations but I don't ever recall seeing maltodextrin+wheat on a label. I could be wrong but suspect it isn't legislated here. I avoid it :(

BabsV Enthusiast

You may need to write an article, describing your ,ahem, "adventures".... as a "Celiac Abroad", yes? ;)

IH

Oh, I'm storing it all up and will do a monster post to the Travel Forum here on the site so anyone who is thinking of coming to Krakow has an idea of how to survive. The Polish kitchen is so wheat and flour based it is daunting...and I've had so much trouble trying to get meat that doesn't make me sick (apparently the big shops put additives in the fresh meat or so I've been told.) Not to mention that all sausage, lunch meat, hot dogs, bacon, ground meats, etc. have gluten. Seriously -- it is clearly marked! I think one of the first things I will eat when I return to the United States is a piece of bacon. :rolleyes: At least I can get good fish...but I may not want to see another piece of fish again after I survive the next 6 months!

IrishHeart Veteran

Oh, I'm storing it all up and will do a monster post to the Travel Forum here on the site so anyone who is thinking of coming to Krakow has an idea of how to survive. The Polish kitchen is so wheat and flour based it is daunting...and I've had so much trouble trying to get meat that doesn't make me sick (apparently the big shops put additives in the fresh meat or so I've been told.) Not to mention that all sausage, lunch meat, hot dogs, bacon, ground meats, etc. have gluten. Seriously -- it is clearly marked! I think one of the first things I will eat when I return to the United States is a piece of bacon. :rolleyes: At least I can get good fish...but I may not want to see another piece of fish again after I survive the next 6 months!

Too bad you are having so much trouble getting PLAIN meat. Geesh!

But I saw in your other post that you have found someone for fresh poultry! good!

As my Mom has asked "WHY do they have to put wheat IN everything?

Leave my food alone!!"

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,553
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Jennifer CCC
    Newest Member
    Jennifer CCC
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Your post demonstrates the profound frustration and isolation that so many in the Celiac community feel, and I want to thank you for channeling that experience into advocacy. The medical gaslighting you endured for decades is an unacceptable and, sadly, a common story, and the fact that you now have to "school" your own GI specialist speaks volumes about the critical lack of consistent and updated education. Your idea to make Celiac Disease a reportable condition to public health authorities is a compelling and strategic one. This single action would force the system to formally acknowledge the prevalence and seriousness of the disease, creating a concrete dataset that could drive better research funding, shape medical school curricula, and validate the patient experience in a way that individual stories alone often cannot. It is an uphill battle, but contacting representatives, as you have done with Adam Gray, is exactly how change begins. By framing it as a public health necessity—a matter of patient safety and protection from misdiagnosis and neglect—you are building a powerful case. Your voice and your perseverance, forged through thirty years of struggle, are exactly what this community needs to ensure that no one else has to fight so hard just to be believed and properly cared for.
    • Scott Adams
      I had no idea there is a "Louisville" in Colorado!😉 I thought it was a typo because I always think of the Kentucky city--but good luck!
    • Scott Adams
      Navigating medication safety with Celiac disease can be incredibly stressful, especially when dealing with asthma and severe allergies on top of it. While I don't have personal experience with the HealthA2Z brand of cetirizine, your caution is absolutely warranted. The inactive ingredients in pills, known as excipients, are often where gluten can be hidden, and since the FDA does not require gluten-free labeling for prescription or over-the-counter drugs, the manufacturer's word is essential. The fact that you cannot get a clear answer from Allegiant Health is a significant red flag; a company that is confident its product is gluten-free will typically have a customer service protocol to answer that exact question. In situations like this, the safest course of action is to consider this product "guilty until proven innocent" and avoid it. A better alternative would be to ask your pharmacist or doctor to help you identify a major national brand of cetirizine (like Zyrtec) whose manufacturer has a verified, publicly stated gluten-free policy for that specific medication. It's not worth the risk to your health when reliable, verifiable options are almost certainly available to you. You can search this site for USA prescriptions medications, but will need to know the manufacturer/maker if there is more than one, especially if you use a generic version of the medication: To see the ingredients you will need to click on the correct version of the medication and maker in the results, then scroll down to "Ingredients and Appearance" and click it, and then look at "Inactive Ingredients," as any gluten ingredients would likely appear there, rather than in the Active Ingredients area. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/   
    • Scott Adams
      What you're describing is indeed familiar to many in the Celiac community, especially in the early stages of healing. When the intestinal villi are damaged from Celiac disease, they struggle to properly digest and absorb fats, a condition known as bile acid malabsorption. This can cause exactly the kind of cramping and spasms you're seeing, as undigested fats can irritate the sensitive gut lining. It is highly plausible that her reactions to dairy and eggs are linked to their higher fat content rather than the proteins, especially since she tolerates lean chicken breast. The great news is that for many, this does improve with time. As her gut continues to heal on a strict gluten-free diet, her ability to produce the necessary enzymes and bile to break down fats should gradually return, allowing her to slowly tolerate a wider variety of foods. It's a slow process of healing, but your careful approach of focusing on low-fat, nutrient-dense foods like seeds and avocado is providing her system the best possible environment to recover. Many people with celiac disease, especially those who are in the 0-2 year range of their recovery, have additional food intolerance issues which could be temporary. To figure this out you may need to keep a food diary and do an elimination diet over a few months. Some common food intolerance issues are dairy/casein, eggs, corn, oats, and soy. The good news is that after your gut heals (for most people who are 100% gluten-free this will take several months to two years) you may be able to slowly add some these items back into your diet after the damaged villi heal. This article may be helpful: Thank you for sharing your story—it's a valuable insight for other parents navigating similar challenges.
    • Beverage
      I had a very rough month after diagnosis. No exaggeration, lost so much inflammatory weight, I looked like a bag of bones, underneath i had been literally starving to death. I did start feeling noticeably better after a month of very strict control of my kitchen and home. What are you eating for breakfast and lunch? I ignored my doc and ate oats, yes they were gluten free, but some brands are at the higher end of gluten free. Lots of celics can eat Bob's Red Mill gluten-free oats, but not me. I can now eat them, but they have to be grown and processed according to the "purity protocol" methods. I mail order them, Montana Gluten-Free brand. A food and symptoms and activities log can be helpful in tracking down issues. You might be totally aware, but I have to mention about the risk of airborne gluten. As the doc that diagnosed me warned . . Remember eyes, ears, nose, and mouth all lead to your stomach and intestines.  Are you getting any cross contamination? Airborne gluten? Any pets eating gluten (they eat it, lick themselves, you pet them...)? Any house remodeling? We live in an older home, always fixing something. I've gotten glutened from the dust from cutting into plaster walls, possibly also plywood (glues). The suggestions by many here on vitamin supplements also really helped me. I had some lingering allergies and asthma, which are now 99% gone. I was taking Albuterol inhaler every hour just to breathe, but thiamine in form of benfotiamine kicked that down to 1-2 times a day within a few days of starting it. Also, since cutting out inflammatory seed oils (canola, sunflower, grapeseed, etc) and cooking with real olive oil, avocado oil, ghee, and coconut oil, I have noticed even greater improvement overall and haven't used the inhaler in months! It takes time to weed out everything in your life that contains gluten, and it takes awhile to heal and rebuild your health. At first it's mentally exhausting, overwhelming, even obsessive, but it gets better and second nature.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.