What is E1442?
Hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate (E1442) is a modified starch used for texture and stability. Goodnessly rates E1442 Safe within permitted food uses and specifications.
Hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate is used in specified food applications. Check the food category, amount and full formulation rather than judging one ingredient in isolation.
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Read the FAQ →
What is Hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate?
Hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate is a modified starch designed to provide useful texture and stability in food processing. It is used where native starch performance needs adjustment.
What's it used for?
- Building viscosity and body
- Improving stability during processing
- Supporting texture in prepared foods
- Helping maintain consistency through storage
Where you'll find E1442 on the shelf
It can appear in sauces, soups, desserts, fillings and other formulated foods that use modified starch for texture or stability.
Is E1442 permitted? What the regulators say
E1442 is authorised or permitted in the three systems checked, with food-category, specification and good manufacturing practice conditions applying.
| Region | Status | What this means |
|---|---|---|
| AU/NZ Australia & New Zealand (FSANZ) | Permitted with conditions | FSANZ Schedule 15 includes additive 1442 hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate for specified food uses. |
| EU European Union (EFSA) | Authorised with conditions | E1442 hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate is on the EU Union list for specified food categories and conditions. |
| US United States (FDA) | Permitted with conditions | FDA 21 CFR 172.892 permits food starch-modified when the listed modification treatments and limitations are met; the exact starch identity and conditions must be checked for the formulation. |
Goodnessly rates E1442 Safe within its rating system. The rating does not remove the need to consider the product category, amount or full formulation.
- EFSA’s 2017 re-evaluation of modified starches including E1442 concluded that a numerical ADI was unnecessary at reported uses and levels.
- The opinion considered the existing ADI “not specified” approach appropriate for the evaluated modified starches.
- The European Commission’s 2024 materials identified E1442 among additives for a new technical and toxicological data call; no revised final ADI was located in this check.
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 might want to limit or avoid it
- People checking modified starches in prepared foods
- People comparing texture and stability systems
- People who want to understand why a starch is listed separately from flour or native starch
Goodnessly rates E1442 Safe as a practical prompt to understand the ingredient, the product and the overall formulation.
How to spot it on a label
Look for:
- Hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate
- Modified starch
- 1442 or E1442
- Thickener (1442)
Ingredient labels may use the name, the number, or the additive class followed by the number.
Related additives
Frequently asked questions
What is E1442?
E1442 is hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate, a modified starch used for texture, viscosity and stability in specified foods.
Is E1442 permitted?
E1442 is permitted with conditions in Australia/New Zealand and the EU. US food starch-modified rules cover listed modification methods and limitations.
Why is hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate rated Safe?
Goodnessly rates E1442 Safe within its rating system, while the food category, specifications and formulation still matter.
How does Goodnessly rate E1442?
Goodnessly rates E1442 (hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate) as Safe.
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