Description

Maltodextrin is a moderately sweet polysaccharide used as a food additive. It is produced from corn starch and is usually found as a creamy white hygroscopic powder. Maltodextrine is easily digestible, being absorbed as rapidly as glucose. The CAS registry number of maltodextrine is ********6. Maltodextrin is an intermediate product obtained during the controlled hydrolysis of starch. It is a midway product between starch and glucose when hydrolyzed by enzymes, typically by Bacterial Alpha Amylase and then additional conversion to get the desired DE, which ranges between 4 and *0. The product thus obtained is refined by clarification, carbon treatment and ion exchange and then spray dried to a moisture level of 3% to 5%. Maltodextrin is a white powder and is extremely bland in taste with very little sweetness. When made into a solution, it exhibits very high viscosity although it does not hold water in itself. Its bland taste makes it inert on other food flavours and colours. It is a good agent to ensure dispersibility in cold water maintaining clarity and eye appeal.

Maltodextrin contains the least concentration of monosaccharides and hence exhibits high viscosity by virtue of which it contributes to the texture and body of the product. Due to its bland flavour, the original flavour of food products is retained, making it an ideal additive. Maltodextrin does not have any effect on the colour of the product; it has a high energy rating of 4 cal /gm of solids which makes it a purified nutritive saccharide of choice for several food supplements. It is an ideal additive to instant products due to its free flexibility, open structure and dispersibility in cold water. It is also an ideal crystal inhibitor, plasticizer and film former in food and beverages. It is rapidly dispersible in water. Due to its non-hygroscopic nature, it increases the viscosity and prevents caking and crystallization in the frozen foods such as ice cream. It is an ideal ingredient for ready to eat products.