The setting-up of this website was financially
supported by the European
Union within the European Commission’s Sixth Framework Programme from
1 January 2005 until 28 February 2007.
The European Commission and other EU agencies are not responsible for the content.
|
See what’s what.
Please note that the GMO Compass Database currently is being expanded and updated. Please check back for new entries.
|
|
Modified starch
|
E 1404 - 1450 | Thickening agent |
|
Possible application of gene technology |
Labelling |
| Primary
product GM-maize |
yes (?) |
Description
Modified starches are  starches that:
- have been chemically modified. Primarily they are used because of
their technological characteristics and are therefore legally considered
as supplements. Their use is thus, as for all supplements, regulated
by legislative provisions.
- Physically (e.g. through heat or pressure) or enzymatically modified
starches are regarded as ingredients and are itemised in the list
of ingredients under the term starch.
The term "modified starch" encompasses many varieties, such as: oxidised
starch, acetylated starch, phosphorylated
starch, hydroxypropylated starch, and
starch sodium octenyl succinate.
Chemically modified starches:
- are, in contrast to their starch of origin, considerably more stable
against heat and cold; they can therefore be used more easily in the
industrial production of foodstuffs.
- have better swelling characteristics and thus more favourable
flow properties; they disperse well in food.
- their individual characteristics can be precisely adjusted to
obtain the optimal desired technological attribute.
Application
Modified starches are used as thickening agents
or, carriers or stabilisers, particularly in:
Gene technology
Modified starches are derived from starch. The
primary products for starch are plants such as maize, potatoes or wheat.
- Maize starch can contain a certain percentage of GM maize,
in particular when the primary product was imported from the USA
or Argentina. In the EU, genetically modified maize is grown on
a comparativelly 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.
- There is no commercial cultivation of genetically modified potatoes
and wheat strains at present. This may change
in the near future.
Labelling: Supplements based on starch must be labelled as
such if they are directly produced from genetically modified plants
(e.g. maize). Whether this also applies to modified starches has not
been explicitly clarified.
|
|
Processed Foods
| Possible Applications of GMOs |
Ingredients and Additives
| Possible applications of GMOs |
|