E1412Emulsifier · Stabiliser · Thickener
Distarch phosphate
What the research shows
Conflicting
studies in people disagree
A modified starch.1
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- EU permitted
What research says
Studies in people
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Benefit
Weight management2
In healthy men, a meal with hydroxypropyl-distarch phosphate led to higher energy burning and fat use than regular waxy maize starch.
-
Concern
Baby digestion troubles3
In babies and toddlers, acetylated distarch phosphate caused more gas and looser stools than plain starch.
The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least one finding in people. When most findings in people point one way, the page leans that way (“Mostly”), and every finding is still shown. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.
What expert reviews concluded
Expert panels that weigh all the research. Shown for context: the signal at the top does not count them.
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UN and WHO food additive experts (JECFA), 2016
No daily limit needed (“ADI not specified”, JECFA’s term for very low toxicity).
Regulatory status
Checked Sep 2026-
European Union Permitted EUR-Lex Reg. (EC) 1333/2008
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United Kingdom Permitted FSA retained EU law
Status reflects the named register on the date checked. It is not a safety rating. A country appears here once we've found this ingredient on its official list.
How we checkProducts
The 5 most-scanned of 33 products on Open Food Facts that list distarch phosphate.
- Matcha Bubble Tea 6 additives
- Malang cow soft chewing candy Lotte · 63 g 8 additives
- Golden curry mild S&B 2 additives
- Bubble milk tea 9 additives
- Vanilla Latte Yulu 13 additives
References
- 1Distarch phosphate. Wikipedia. Accessed September 26, 2026. CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 2Shimotoyodome A, Suzuki J, Kameo Y, Hase T. Dietary supplementation with hydroxypropyl-distarch phosphate from waxy maize starch increases resting energy expenditure by lowering the postprandial glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide response in human subjects. Br J Nutr. 2011;106(1):96-104. doi:10.1017/S0007114510005854
- 3Lebenthal-Bendor Y, Theuer RC, Lebenthal A, Tabi I, Lebenthal E. Malabsorption of modified food starch (acetylated distarch phosphate) in normal infants and in 8-24-month-old toddlers with non-specific diarrhea, as influenced by sorbitol and fructose. Acta Paediatr. 2001;90(12):1368-72. doi:10.1111/j.1651-2227.2001.tb01597.x