High Fructose Corn Syrup, Saccharin, Sodium Nitrate, Potassium Bromate – There is no shortage of food additives, making it especially difficult to choose a gluten-free processed food.
If you are following a gluten-free diet, maltodextrin is an additive that you can eat without worry. Added to soft drinks or sports drinks as a preservative and thickener, maltodextrin is generally made from corn, rice or potato starch, making it completely safe for people with gluten intolerance and sensitivities.
To be safe, always check that the processed foods you buy are labeled gluten-free or certified gluten-free.
What Makes Maltodextrin Gluten Free?
Food additives, sweeteners, and preservatives are a kind of gray area when it comes to gluten. Not only are they plentiful in almost all processed foods, but the names of food additives (such as maltodextrin) don't give much indication of their gluten content, either.
Given that it has "malt" in its name, it stands to reason that maltodextrin contains malt, an ingredient derived from barley and that is generally not gluten-free. But it's usually made from starch , so it's safe to eat on a gluten-free diet.
This additive typically comes from cornstarch, rice or potato starch, all of which are naturally gluten-free. The additive is formed when the starch in these foods is broken down with water, a process known as hydrolysis. Powder, white maltodextrin is the result.
In some rare cases, maltodextrin can be made from wheat starch. But due to the processing levels the additive undergoes, maltodextrin is generally gluten-free and safe to eat even when it comes from wheat.
For people who are extremely intolerant or sensitive to gluten, nutritional labels often specify what type of starch was used to produce maltodextrin. The type of food used in the manufacturing process of the additive will appear in parentheses in the list of ingredients.
Gluten-free foods with maltodextrin
This additive is added to a variety of processed foods to thicken products or extend their shelf life. Often, you will find this ingredient in:
- Pre-brewed coffee
- Sweet
- Salad dressing
- Canned soup
- Frozen dishes
- Protein shakes
- Sport drinks
However, if you're buying a product that contains maltodextrin, that doesn't necessarily mean it's gluten-free. When purchasing any processed food, you should first check the nutrition label and allergen list to verify that there are no hidden gluten ingredients.
Once you've confirmed that there are no obvious gluten-based ingredients, also look for a gluten-free label on the package. This label is regulated and confirms that the foods you eat contain less than 20 parts per million gluten (ppm), which is generally safe for anyone.
