My diet:

High-maltose corn syrup

No E-numberSweetenersOrigin: Plant
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Every diet

VeganYes

High-maltose corn syrup is hydrolyzed corn starch.

Gluten-freeYes

The starch is corn, not wheat or barley.

HalalYes
KosherYes

Corn is kitniyot for some Passover customs.

KetoNo

High-maltose corn syrup is a caloric sugar syrup.

Low-FODMAPYes

The sugars are maltose and glucose, not a fructose load.

The short answer
High-maltose corn syrup is a vegan corn sweetener that is mostly maltose. It is not keto. It is gluten-free. It is not high-fructose corn syrup, and it is not the malt syrup made from barley.
Use in moderation

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

E-numberNone
Comes fromPlant
What it doesSweeteners
Glycemic index—
Daily limitNot set
Also calledHigh-maltose corn syrup, High maltose corn syrup

Rules by country

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

The FDA affirms corn syrup, a purified solution of saccharides from corn starch, as GRAS under 21 CFR 184.1865. High-maltose corn syrup is that syrup made so maltose dominates. Europe and Canada treat glucose syrups as sugars, not as E-numbers.

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

What is it?

Enzymes first turn corn starch into shorter chains and then into maltose. Candy makers like it because it controls crystallization. Brewers use a related syrup to feed yeast. The taste is less sweet than table sugar.

Where it comes from: High-maltose corn syrup is corn starch broken down so the syrup is rich in maltose, a sugar of two glucoses. It is a corn syrup aimed at maltose rather than at fructose. High-maltose syrup is the corn syrup that was not isomerized into fructose.

Why it’s in food

  • Controls a candy texture
  • Feeds a fermentation
  • Sweetens a bar
  • Holds moisture in a bake

Often found in

Hard candyBeer kitsGranola barsIce creamBreadsImported sweets

Also listed as: High-maltose corn syrup, High maltose corn syrup, HMCS, Maltose syrup

Health & gut impact

Maltose, not fructoseUnder study

The syrup is named for maltose. A shopper avoiding fructose still gets a large dose of caloric sugar. The blood-sugar rise of maltose is high.

Saccharide profile of high-maltose syrups

Not barley maltBenefit

The maltose here comes from corn starch and enzymes. It does not contain barley gluten. Barley malt syrup is the ingredient that does.

Process difference between corn syrup and barley malt

What can I use instead?

Corn syrup

Ratio: The broader glucose syrup this is cut from

Best for: Candy and baking

High-fructose corn syrup

Ratio: The corn syrup that was isomerized toward fructose

Best for: Soft drinks

Related

More sweeteners:

Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K) E950Acesulfame potassium (Ace-K, E950) is a zero-calorie sweetener approved in the US, EU and Canada. EFSA re-checked it in 2025 and raised its daily limit. It's usually paired with sucralose or aspartame to hide a slightly bitter aftertaste.Use in moderationAdvantame E969Advantame (E969) is an extremely intense sweetener related to aspartame. Regulators approve it, and the amount in a food is tiny next to the daily limit. It does not carry aspartame's phenylalanine warning at normal use.Generally safeAgave syrup (Agave nectar)Agave syrup is a plant sweetener that is mostly fructose. It barely moves blood sugar, and it is still sugar: skip it on keto and in a low-FODMAP elimination.Use in moderationAlluloseAllulose is a "rare sugar" that tastes like sugar but has almost no calories and doesn't raise blood sugar. It's keto-friendly and browns like real sugar in baking.Generally safe

Common questions

Is high-maltose corn syrup the same as HFCS?

No. High-fructose corn syrup is made so a share of the glucose becomes fructose. High-maltose syrup is made so the sugar is maltose.

Is it gluten-free?

Yes. It comes from corn. Barley malt syrup is the gluten one.

Is High-maltose corn syrup safe?

Use in moderation (55/100). The FDA affirms corn syrup, a purified solution of saccharides from corn starch, as GRAS under 21 CFR 184.1865. High-maltose corn syrup is that syrup made so maltose dominates. Europe and Canada treat glucose syrups as sugars, not as E-numbers.

Is High-maltose corn syrup vegan?

Yes. High-maltose corn syrup is hydrolyzed corn starch.

Is High-maltose corn syrup gluten-free?

Yes. The starch is corn, not wheat or barley.

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Scientific sources & regulatory citations
  • 21 CFR 184.1865 (US FDA)
  • Saccharide profile of high-maltose syrups
  • Process difference between corn syrup and barley malt