Hydroxypropylstarch

Description

Hydroxypropylstarch E 1440 is a particular form of a chemically modified starch (starch ether). A similar starch variant is hydroxypropyl di-starch phosphate E 1442.

• Beside the usual properties of modified starch starch ethers are notable for their high ability to withstand heat and acid.

See also: starch

Application

Starch ethers are used primarily in:

• ready-to-eat products and frozen goods. They improve the ability of such products to bind water and prevent the appearance of water during thaw ("freeze-thaw-stability")
• pudding and desserts

They are responsible for the desired consistency and prevent the separation of ingredients, such as the settling of herbs.

Gene technology

This additive is manufactured from starch. Raw materials for starch are plants such as maize, potatoes or wheat.

• Maize starch may consist to a certain degree of genetically modified maize, particularly if raw materials have been imported from the USA or Argentina. In the EU, genetically modified maize is grown on a comparatively small area and nonetheless is not used as raw material for foodstuff. This may change in the case that the cultivation of GM maize increases in significance. Ingredients derived from several types of GM maize are approved in the EU.
• To date in the cases of potatos and wheat, no GM varieties are cultivated commercially. This may change in the near future.

Labelling: Starch-based additives are subject to labelling if they have been manufactured directly from genetically modified plants (e.g. maize). It has not been conclusively determined whether this applies also to chemically modified starches. It has been accepted in practice that such products are not labelled.