Table 4.
Specifications for distarch phosphate (E 1412) according to Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 and JECFA (2016a)
| Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 | JECFA (2016a) | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Distarch phosphate is starch cross‐linked with sodium trimetaphosphate or phosphorus oxychloride | Distarch phosphate is a modified starch. It is obtained by esterification of food starch with sodium trimetaphosphate or phosphorus oxychloride in accordance with good manufacturing practice. This treatment results in cross‐linking, where a polyfunctional substituting agent, such as phosphorus oxychloride, connects two chains. The structure can be represented by: Starch–O–R–O–Starch, where R = cross‐linking group and Starch refers to the linear and/or branched structure. Distarch phosphate may additionally be subjected to acid, alkali, enzyme or bleaching treatment in accordance with good manufacturing practice |
| Description | White or nearly white powder or granules or (if pregelatinised) flakes, amorphous powder or coarse particles | White or nearly white powder or granules or (if pregelatinised) flakes, or amorphous powder or coarse particles |
| Identification | ||
| Solubility | − | Insoluble in cold water (if not pregelatinised); forming typical colloidal solutions with viscous properties in hot water; insoluble in ethanol |
| Microscopic observation | Passes test (if not pregelatinised) | Passes test |
| Iodine staining | Passes test (dark blue to light red colour) | Passes test |
| Copper reduction | – | Passes test |
| Purity | ||
| Loss on drying |
Not more than 15.0% for cereal starch Not more than 21.0% for potato starch Not more than 18.0% for other starches |
Cereal starch: not more than 15.0% Potato starch: not more than 21.0% Other starches: not more than 18.0% (120°, 4 h, vacuum not exceeding 100 mmHg) |
| Residual phosphate |
Not more than 0.5% (as P) for wheat or potato starch (on an anhydrous basis) Not more than 0.4% (as P) for other starches (on an anhydrous basis) |
Not more than 0.5% on the dried basis for potato or wheat starch Not more than 0.4% on the dried basis for other starches |
| Carboxyl groups | – | Not more than 0.1% on the dried basis |
| Sulfur dioxide |
Not more than 50 mg/kg for modified cereal starches (on an anhydrous basis) Not more than 10 mg/kg for other modified starches, unless otherwise specified (on an anhydrous basis) |
Not more than 50 mg/kg on the dried basis for modified cereal starches Not more than 10 mg/kg on the dried basis for other modified starches |
| Arsenic | Not more than 1 mg/kg | – |
| Lead | Not more than 2 mg/kg (on an anhydrous basis) | Not more than 2 mg/kg on the dried basis |
| Mercury | Not more than 0.1 mg/kg | – |
| Manganese | – | Not more than 50 mg/kg on the dried basis |