Glucono-delta-lactone

Explanatory note

Glucono-delta-lactone is a compound (specifically, an ester) of gluconic acid. In the course of dessication and the associated accumulation of heat, it accrues naturally for example in raisins or in other foods that contain gluconic acid.

Utilisation

Glucono-delta-lactone is used for various technological purposes with regard to foodstuffs:

• for the regulation of acidity and colour in food
• for the support of antioxidants and preservatives (for fine-tuning and the stabilisation of a high ph-value, in order to suppress the growth of unwanted or pathogenic microrganisms)
• for sausage and canned fish (as an accelerator of maturation accelerator)
• for shellfish and processed vegetables (as a stabiliser of colour)
• in baking powder (to facilitate the consistent production of acidity and so to provide constant support of baking procedures)

Gene technology

One may obtain glucono-delta-lactone by subjecting gluconic acid to evaporation. Gluconic acid is produced from dextrose (glucose).

The conversion of glucose to gluconic acid can be achieved with the aid of enzymes or by the fermentation with certain moulds.

As with all products of starch saccharification, various applications of gene technology are possible.

• Raw material: maize starch may consist partly of genetically modified maize, especially if the raw materials are imported out of 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.
  In the future also: starch from potato or wheat.
  
• Enzymes solubilise plant starch and metabolise it into compounds that are classified as ingredients and additives respectively. Several of these enzymes, such as amylases, glucose-isomerase and pullulanase (used in starch saccharification) are produced with the aid of GM microorganisms.

Labelling: starch-based additives are subject to labelling requirement if they are produced from GM plants (e.g. maize). Whether this also applies to glucono-delta-lactone that results by way of various processing stages of starch, is legally not explicitly clarified. In practice, it has been established that labelling will not take place.

If GM microorganisms (such as moulds) are part of the conversion process, the glucono-delta-lactone generated in this manner is not subject to a labelling requirement. Additives that are produced in closed systems with the aid of GM micro-organisms are not subject to a labelling requirement, provided that the additive in question has been purified and does not contain any microorganisms.

Enzymes and their manner of production generally are not declared on the list of ingredients.