My diet:

Corn starch (Cornstarch)

No E-numberThickeners & gumsOrigin: Plant
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Every diet

VeganYes

Corn starch is milled corn.

Gluten-freeYes

Corn does not contain gluten.

HalalYes
KosherYes

Corn is kitniyot for Passover.

KetoNo

Corn starch is a concentrated carbohydrate.

Low-FODMAPYes

Pure starch is not a FODMAP.

The short answer
Corn starch is the starch milled from corn. It is vegan and gluten-free, it is not keto, and it is not the same ingredient as modified food starch.
Use in moderation

Safe in small amounts; may bother some people or raise blood sugar.

E-numberNone
Comes fromPlant
What it doesThickeners & gums
Glycemic index—
Daily limitNot set
Also calledCorn starch, Cornstarch

Rules by country

🇺🇸 US FDANot evaluated as an additive
🇪🇺 European UnionNot evaluated as an additive
🇨🇦 Health CanadaNot evaluated as an additive
CaliforniaNo extra rules

Corn starch is a food, not an E-number. The US, the EU and Canada do not evaluate plain corn starch as an additive. Modified food starch is a different ingredient: the granules there have been chemically treated so they survive acid, freezing or long cooking. This page is the plain powder.

Daily limit: Experts haven’t set a number because normal food amounts are far below any level of concern.

What is it?

Corn starch has almost no taste. A slurry of it turns a thin juice into a pie filling, then thins again if you boil it for too long.

Where it comes from: Corn starch is the white powder milled from the endosperm of the corn kernel, washed free of protein and fiber. Cooks stir it into a simmering liquid, where the granules swell and thicken. UK labels sometimes say cornflour for this same powder.

Why it’s in food

  • Thickens pie filling, pudding and gravy
  • Dusts candy so pieces do not stick
  • Crisps a coating on fried food
  • Carries powdered sugar in a shaker

Often found in

Pie fillingPuddingGravyFried coatingsPowdered sugarSome yogurts

Also listed as: Corn starch, Cornstarch, Maize starch

Health & gut impact

A refined carbohydrateConcern

Corn starch is the endosperm of corn with the protein and fiber washed away. Cooked, it digests as glucose.

Milling of corn starch

Not a modified starchBenefit

Modified food starch has been treated so it holds up to acid, shear or freezing. Plain corn starch has not had that treatment.

FDA identity of food starch-modified, contrasted with plain starch

What can I use instead?

Tapioca starch

Ratio: Use a little less and expect a glossier gel

Best for: Fruit pies

Arrowroot

Ratio: Swap by the spoon and avoid a long boil

Best for: Clear sauces

Related

More thickeners & gums:

Acetylated distarch adipate E1422Acetylated distarch adipate (E1422) is a modified starch used in frozen foods and sauces. It is allowed. The US name on the label is usually just modified food starch, and it still counts as carbohydrate.Generally safeAgar-Agar E406Agar-agar (E406) is a seaweed gel that sets firmer than gelatin. It's safe, vegan, gluten-free, keto and kosher, and is the easiest plant swap for gelatin.Generally safeArrowroot (Arrowroot starch)Arrowroot is a tasteless starch from a tropical rhizome. It is vegan and gluten-free, it makes a clear gel, and it is not keto.Use in moderationBeta-glucan (β-glucan)Beta-glucan is the soluble fiber in oats and barley that the FDA's heart-disease claim is about, at 3 grams a day. Barley versions contain gluten. Yeast versions are a different fiber and do not carry that claim.Generally safe

Common questions

Is corn starch gluten-free?

Yes. Corn has no gluten. A dusty mill that also grinds wheat is a separate cross-contact question.

Is cornstarch the same as corn flour?

In US usage, corn flour is the whole kernel ground up, and corn starch is only the starch. In the UK, cornflour often means the starch.

Is Corn starch safe?

Use in moderation (78/100). Corn starch is a food, not an E-number. The US, the EU and Canada do not evaluate plain corn starch as an additive. Modified food starch is a different ingredient: the granules there have been chemically treated so they survive acid, freezing or long cooking. This page is the plain powder.

Is Corn starch vegan?

Yes. Corn starch is milled corn.

Is Corn starch gluten-free?

Yes. Corn does not contain gluten.

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Scientific sources & regulatory citations
  • Milling of corn starch
  • FDA identity of food starch-modified, contrasted with plain starch