What is E1414?
Acetylated distarch phosphate — a workhorse modified starch, chemically treated so it keeps its thickening power through freezing, reheating and acidic sauces where plain starch would break down.
E1414 (acetylated distarch phosphate) is a starch from corn, tapioca, potato or wheat that has been chemically modified with acetic anhydride and a phosphate cross-linking agent, making it far more stable under heat, freezing and acidic conditions than plain starch. It's one of the most widely used modified starches in processed food. EFSA's 2017 group re-evaluation of this starch family found no safety concern for the general population, and no numerical Acceptable Daily Intake has been set. Goodnessly rates it Caution, in line with how chemically modified starches are generally treated.
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Read the FAQ →
What is acetylated distarch phosphate?
Acetylated distarch phosphate begins as ordinary starch extracted from corn, tapioca, potato or wheat. Manufacturers then treat it in two ways at once: acetylation (reacting it with acetic anhydride) and phosphate cross-linking (bonding starch chains together with a phosphate compound such as sodium trimetaphosphate). The result is a starch that resists breaking down when it's frozen and thawed, reheated, or exposed to the acid and high heat common in food processing — something plain native starch struggles with. That stability is exactly why it's become one of the most common modified starches on ingredient lists.
What's it used for?
- Thickening and stabilising canned soups and sauces
- Keeping frozen ready meals and pie fillings smooth after thawing
- Stabilising salad dressings, gravies and dairy desserts
- Improving texture in some baked goods and batters
Where you'll find 1414 on the shelf
Especially common wherever a product needs to survive freezing, reheating or an acidic recipe without turning watery or lumpy.
Is acetylated distarch phosphate safe? What the research says
Acetylated distarch phosphate has a long approval history and was reviewed as part of a broader EFSA group assessment of modified starches, which found no safety concern for the general population at typical use levels.
| Region | Status | What this means |
|---|---|---|
| AU/NZ Australia & New Zealand (FSANZ) | Permitted | Permitted as a modified starch (food additive code 1414) with no specific maximum level set beyond good manufacturing practice. |
| EU European Union (EFSA) | Permitted, no ADI | Listed as E1414. EFSA's 2017 group re-evaluation of related modified starches, including E1414, found no safety concern for the general population and set no numerical Acceptable Daily Intake, while flagging some data gaps for further study. |
| US United States (FDA) | GRAS | Regulated as a food starch-modified ingredient with Generally Recognized As Safe status under 21 CFR 172.892. |
Acetylated distarch phosphate is broken down by digestive enzymes in a similar way to native starch, and is not generally used in infant formula, in line with the tighter restrictions most EU rules place on modified starches in products for very young infants.
- 2024 EU data call: the European Commission issued a call for updated scientific and technical data on a group of modified starches, including E1414, as part of its ongoing food additive re-evaluation programme. No change to its authorised status has followed as of publication.
- No significant regulatory changes: approval status across AU/NZ, the EU and the US has remained stable, reflecting a long and well-reviewed safety record for this starch group.
This section is checked periodically rather than continuously — if you're reading this well after the date above, it's worth confirming nothing has changed before citing it.
Who this matters to
- People with coeliac disease or a wheat allergy, since acetylated distarch phosphate can be wheat-derived and generic "modified starch" labelling doesn't always specify the source grain
- Anyone who prefers to minimise chemically processed ingredients on principle, even where the finished starch is considered well reviewed
Goodnessly rates E1414 Caution, in line with how chemically modified starches are generally treated in our directory. It's permitted across all major regulators reviewed and no safety concern has been identified for the general population, but the chemical modification step keeps it out of our Safe category.
How to spot it on a label
E1414 is often declared under a generic name. Look out for:
- Acetylated distarch phosphate
- Modified starch
- 1414 or E1414
- "Modified maize starch" or "modified tapioca starch" if the source is specified
Canned and frozen convenience foods are the most common places to find it.
Related additives
Frequently asked questions
Is acetylated distarch phosphate a natural ingredient?
It starts out as a natural starch, usually from corn, tapioca, potato or wheat, but it is then chemically modified with acetic anhydride and a phosphate cross-linking agent. That processing step is why it counts as a modified starch rather than a natural one, even though the base material is a everyday food crop.
Why is acetylated distarch phosphate used instead of plain starch?
Plain starch breaks down and loses its thickening power when foods are frozen, reheated, or exposed to acid or high heat during processing. Acetylation and phosphate cross-linking make the starch far more stable under those conditions, which is why it turns up so often in frozen ready meals, canned soups and acidic sauces.
Does acetylated distarch phosphate have a safe intake limit?
Regulators have not set a numerical Acceptable Daily Intake for it, which in additive regulation usually means the substance is considered safe enough at normal use levels that a specific milligram limit is not needed. EFSA's 2017 group review of this modified starch family found no safety concern for the general population, though it also noted some data gaps and recommended further study.
Does Goodnessly rate E1414 as safe, caution, or avoid?
Goodnessly rates E1414 (Acetylated Distarch Phosphate) as Caution, in line with how most chemically modified starches are treated in our directory. It is permitted and considered well reviewed by regulators, but the chemical modification step and the still-developing data picture for this whole starch group keep it out of our Safe category.
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