What is maltodextrin?

Maltodextrin is a food additive that is a polysaccharide. This product is included in snacks, fruits, salad dressings, sauces and cereal. It is produced from starch through partial hydrolysis and can be found as white hygroscopic powder.

Maltodextrin is used as a filler or thickener in processed foods, including beer, sugar substitutes and light peanut butter. It is also used as a binding agent in pharmaceuticals. Maltodextrin contains four calories per gram, but it has a high glycemic index. Maltodextrin is easily digested and absorbed. It does not taste as sweet as table sugar because of its complex chemical structure.