avoid modified food starch?

[NikaStar]

Just curious if "modified food starch" should be avoided. It seems a bit vague in its identification of the source of the starch! Thanks. 

[the sensible celiac]

Just curious if "modified food starch" should be avoided. It seems a bit vague in its identification of the source of the starch! Thanks. 

I never try to avoid it.  In the USA modified food starch is defined by the FDA as being made from corn, with the qualification that it can be made from other sources if that source is named.

Also allergen warning laws mean that if a food product contains food starch made from wheat then the product must bear an allergen warning label saying it contains wheat.

From the FDA:

POLICY: In the absence of a standard of identity, starch meeting the specification of the United States Pharmacopeia is acceptable for food use.
For purposes of labeling in accordance with Section 403(i) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and Section 4(a)(1) of the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, the term "starch" is considered the common or usual name for starch made from corn; alternatively, the name "cornstarch" may be used.
Starches from other sources should be designated by some non-misleading term that indicates the source of such starch, for example, "potato starch," "wheat starch," or "tapioca starch."
The term "arrowroot" is the common or usual name for starch obtained from Maranta arundinacea L.
If the word arrowroot is used to designate similar starches obtained from other plant sources it should be qualified by some term indicating the source.
A regulation has been promulgated to prescribe safe conditions of use for "food starch-modified" (21 CFR 172.892). This regulation requires that the label shall bear the name of the additive "food starch-modified." This name should be used to designate this additive on labels of fabricated foods in which it is used as an ingredient.

[tucsonjenn]

I generally avoid MFS.  I had been under the assumption that it's corn, and okay to have.  Until I ran into the following problem:

I was trying Dannon Light and Fit yogurts.  It has MFS, so I took a gamble.  I started to get sick after eating it, so I looked at the label closer.  It has MFS, and Modified Corn Starch.  I was confused, and contacted the company to ask for clarification.  They said  "We have to list wheat as a major food allergen", but when I pressed them for what was their MFS source, they said "It's a blend, but I don't know what's all in it."  I ended the conversation with "So, there could be wheat in it if you don't even know for sure," and they admitted that could be true.

Needless to say, I'm avoiding MFS for a while again.

[Sharon]

Interesting.  I don't know if you have occasion to follow the blog site on www.ibstreatmentcenter.com. (Done by a doc who has celiac disease).  Anyway, he recently (mid March ?) posted that Dannon had just settled a lawsuit for some false advertising -- noting this was picked up in Canada several months prior, but took longer before being made public in US.  Sounds like they have more problems yet.

Sharon

[drloots]

modified food starch is usually gluten-free. If its made from wheat it is not and most likely will be labeled as containing wheat on the package.

[chrizsmith]

I guess it is hard to avoid MFS.. and mr.sensible celiac is right.. almost all MFS are Gluten free that is why there would be no point on avoiding it