| MadSci Network: Engineering |
I cannot answer with certainty, because 'modified corn starch' is not a single substance. There are wide variety of 'modified corn starches' produced as food ingredients. With that caveat, I think that is unlikely that any modified corn starch would contribute a significant amount of MSG to a food. I refered to a textbook on the subject and was unable to find any reference to modification of starch using MSG (BeMiller, J. N. and Whistler, R. L. (1996). Carbohydrates. Food Chemistry. O. R. Fennema. New York, Marcel Dekker.). For a more authoratative reference you may want to consult Wurzburg, O. B. (1986) Modified Starches: Properties and Uses, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
You should also be aware that MSG occurs naturally in some foods, and for that reason may not appear as a listed ingredient. A few examples are tomatoes, some cheeses and soy sauce.
**Please note: The author is answering on his own behalf and his comments do not necessarily reflect any official position or policy of the USDA.
[Moderator's note: You can find more information about monosodium glutamate (MSG) by searching our archives.]
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