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E1404Modified starchLow concern
Oxidized Starch
In plain words
The short version
A starch chemically oxidized for clarity and lower viscosity — used in coatings, batters, and confectionery.
Why it's green
It's widely considered safe at the amounts used in food, so we mark it green. The Safety section below has the details.
Safety profile
No ADI specified. EFSA (2017) found no safety concern for the general population at the reported uses and use levels, and no need for a numerical ADI. Modified starches are not absorbed intact but are significantly broken down by intestinal enzymes and then fermented by gut bacteria. Residual chlorate or chloride from the oxidation step is tightly controlled.
The detail
Produced by treating native starch (typically maize or potato) with sodium hypochlorite or hydrogen peroxide under controlled conditions. The oxidation degrades the starch backbone slightly, lowering viscosity and improving clarity.
Used in confectionery glazing (gives clean clear surfaces), batter coatings for fried foods, and paper/textile applications (food use is a small share of total production). Produces clearer, less retrogradation-prone pastes than native starch.
Off-white powder. Hydrates in cold or hot water to give clearer, less viscous pastes than native starch. Reduced tendency to gel and retrograde on cooling.
Permitted globally without restrictive limits for food use.
Sources
- EFSA — Re-evaluation of oxidised starch (E 1404) and other modified starches (E 1410–E 1451) as food additives (EFSA Journal 2017;15(10):4911) — European Food Safety Authority (via PubMed Central), 2017. No safety concern and no need for a numerical ADI; how modified starches are digested
- JECFA database — Oxidized starch, INS 1404 — WHO / FAO JECFA, 2018. JECFA ADI 'not specified'
- 21 CFR 172.892 — Food starch-modified, eCFR as of 1 Oct 2026 — US eCFR (National Archives / GPO), 2026. US status and oxidation conditions (sodium hypochlorite)
- Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives, consolidated text (18 Aug 2026), Annex II Part C, Group I — EUR-Lex (European Union), 2026. EU status: Group I additive at quantum satis
Checked against these sources on .
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