Starch Sodium Octenyl Succinate
The short version
OSA-starch — the modified starch that emulsifies and encapsulates fat-soluble flavors and vitamins.
It's widely considered safe at the amounts used in food, so we mark it green. The Safety section below has the details.
Where it comes from
Manufactured by reacting native starch (typically waxy maize) with octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA), grafting hydrophobic octenyl chains onto the polysaccharide backbone. The result is an amphiphilic starch that behaves as a stable food emulsifier.
How it's used
Uniquely able to emulsify and encapsulate oils, fat-soluble flavors, and vitamins into water-dispersible powders. Used in powdered beverage flavors, vitamin and omega-3 powders, powdered fat for nutrition bars, encapsulated natural colors (curcumin, β-carotene), and clouding agents for diet beverages.
Safety profile
ADI not specified — considered safe. Digestion proceeds like other modified starches; OSA side groups are hydrolyzed to octenyl succinic acid and metabolized normally.
Physical & chemical properties
Off-white free-flowing powder. Disperses easily in cold water; forms stable o/w emulsions with hydrophobic actives. Heat-stable in typical food applications.
Regulation worldwide
Permitted globally without restrictive limits.
Educational information only. Not medical or dietary advice.