INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME ON CHEMICAL SAFETY
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
TOXICOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF SOME
FOOD COLOURS, EMULSIFIERS, STABILIZERS,
ANTI-CAKING AGENTS AND CERTAIN
OTHER SUBSTANCES
FAO Nutrition Meetings Report Series
No. 46A WHO/FOOD ADD/70.36
The content of this document is the result of the deliberations of the
Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives which met in Rome,
27 May - 4 June 19691
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
World Health Organization
1 Thirteenth report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food
Additives, FAO Nutrition Meetings Report Series, in press;
Wld Hlth Org. techn. Rep. Ser., in press.
MONO STARCH PHOSPHATE
Biological Data
Biochemical aspects
These starches contain probably simple phosphoric ester group,
attached to some of the hydroxyl radicals of the glucopyranose units.
Residual phosphate amounts to approximately 2 per cent. phosphate
calculated as P. They are made by the use of alkali orthophosphates.
In vitro enzymatic hydrolysis of mono starch phosphate by wheat
alpha-amylase was compared with unmodified wheat starch. No difference
was noted in the rate of production of reducing substances. The
metabolic behaviour of the phosphate radical in starch phosphate was
studied in vivo by comparing the distribution of P32 after oral
administration of labelled starch phosphate to rats, with that from
either labelled orthophosphate or pyrophosphate.The percentage
activity excreted in urine and faeces over 48 hours as well as the
percentage activity retained in liver, kidney, blood plasma and bone
showed no significant difference for the 3 types of phosphate
examined. The phosphate moiety of starch phosphate probably behaves
metabolically like any other ionic phosphate (Laboratories of
International Minerals & Chemical Co., 1955).
Acute toxicity
None available.
Short-term studies
None available.
Long-term studies
None available.
Comments
An adequate metabolic study has shown that this modification does not
affect the digestibility of the starch. Whatever the manner of
attachment of the phosphate groups may be, their metabolic disposition
after digestion follows the same pathways as free orthophosphate or
pyrophosphate. This material is not to be regarded as toxicologically
different from native starch of the same botanical origin provided the
phosphate content is limited.
EVALUATION
Not limited1 except for good manufacturing practice.
REFERENCES
Laboratories of International Minerals and Chemical Corporation (1955)
Unpublished report to American Maize Products Co.
1 Subject to limits of phosphorous load given in 7th Report of the
Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, Wld Hlth Org.
techn. Rep. Ser., 1964, 281, 31