My diet:

E1422 Acetylated distarch adipate

E1422Thickeners & gumsOrigin: Plant
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Every diet

VeganYes
Gluten-freeDepends

Corn, potato and tapioca bases are gluten-free. A wheat base must be named.

HalalYes
KosherYes
KetoNo

Acetylation does not make a starch stop being a carbohydrate.

Low-FODMAPYes
The short answer
Acetylated 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 safe

Fine for most people at normal amounts.

E-numberE1422
Comes fromPlant
What it doesThickeners & gums
Glycemic index—
Daily limitNot set
Also calledAcetylated distarch adipate, Acetylated distarch adipate starch

Rules by country

🇺🇸 US FDAApproved
🇪🇺 European UnionApproved
🇨🇦 Health CanadaApproved
CaliforniaNo extra rules

E1422 is an authorized modified starch in the EU, the US and Canada. EFSA's 2017 group review of modified starches included it and did not set a numerical daily intake. The adipate cross-link is the detail that separates it from E1442, which uses phosphate and hydroxypropyl groups instead. Both are carbohydrates. Wheat as a base still has to be declared.

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

What is it?

The powder makes a clear, short paste that can be frozen and reheated. Pie fillings use it so the fruit stays glossy instead of watery.

Where it comes from: Acetylated distarch adipate is starch cross-linked with adipic acid and then acetylated. The cross-link keeps granules intact through shear and heat. The acetate groups make the paste clearer and more stable in the cold. It is a common frozen-food starch, and in the US it usually appears only as modified food starch.

Why it’s in food

  • Stabilizes a frozen pie filling
  • Thickens a sauce that will be reheated
  • Gives a clear gloss
  • Survives factory stirring

Often found in

Frozen fruit piesSaucesSoupsDessertsFillingsSome dairy desserts

Also listed as: Acetylated distarch adipate, Acetylated distarch adipate starch

Health & gut impact

Included in the 2017 reviewBenefit

EFSA looked at E1422 with the other modified starches in 2017 and did not assign a separate numerical cap.

EFSA 2017 re-evaluation of modified starches

A different modification from E1442Benefit

E1422 is cross-linked with adipate and then acetylated. E1442 is cross-linked with phosphate and hydroxypropylated. Kitchens treat them as cousins, not as the same code.

INS specifications for 1422 and 1442

What can I use instead?

Hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate

Ratio: Use it when the formula wants that modification instead

Best for: Yogurt and acid sauces

Tapioca starch

Ratio: It will not survive a freeze as well

Best for: A simple clear gel

Related

More thickeners & gums:

Agar-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 safeCalcium alginate (Seaweed salt) E404Calcium alginate (E404) is a seaweed-based gel that sets in cold liquid when it meets calcium. It's the basis of vegan spheres and cheese analogues. It's vegan, gluten-free and safe.Generally safe

Common questions

Is E1422 the same as modified food starch?

It is one of the starches that phrase covers. The phrase also covers other modifications.

Is it keto?

No. It is starch.

Is Acetylated distarch adipate safe?

Generally safe (86/100). E1422 is an authorized modified starch in the EU, the US and Canada. EFSA's 2017 group review of modified starches included it and did not set a numerical daily intake. The adipate cross-link is the detail that separates it from E1442, which uses phosphate and hydroxypropyl groups instead. Both are carbohydrates. Wheat as a base still has to be declared.

Is Acetylated distarch adipate gluten-free?

Depends. Corn, potato and tapioca bases are gluten-free. A wheat base must be named.

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Scientific sources & regulatory citations
  • EFSA OpenFoodTox: E1422
  • EFSA 2017 re-evaluation of modified starches
  • INS specifications for 1422 and 1442

INS 1422