Maltodextrin in Food: Functionality, Nutrition, and Sensory Appeal

Discover how Roquette’s GLUCIDEX^® maltodextrins enhance food and beverage formulations. Learn about their nutritional value, clean label appeal, and versatility.

What is maltodextrin

Maltodextrins are glucose-based carbohydrates derived from plant starches such as corn, waxy corn, wheat, potato, and pea. At Roquette, we produce them through a controlled process of hydrolysis, purification, and spray drying. The result is a white, water-soluble powder with a neutral or slightly sweet taste and a wide spectrum of functional benefits.

Our GLUCIDEX^® range includes both maltodextrins (Dextrose Equivalent < 20) and dried glucose syrups (D.E. > 20), offering D.E. values from 1 to 47. This diversity allows food and beverage manufacturers to tailor sweetness, viscosity, solubility, and nutritional impact to meet specific formulation goals.

Why maltodextrin matters in food and beverage formulation

Maltodextrins play a versatile role in modern formulation. They help build texture, carry flavors, and deliver energy.

Their molecular structure allows for controlled osmolality, which is especially valuable in sensitive applications like infant nutrition and clinical foods.

Whether you're formulating for indulgence, nutrition, or efficiency, GLUCIDEX^® helps create food experiences that resonate with consumers and meet evolving expectations for quality and transparency.

In Food, maltodextrins help manufacturers

Deliver energy: GLUCIDEX^® provides 100% glucose-based energy at 4 kcal/g, supporting brain and muscle function.
Enhance mouthfeel: They add creaminess, softness, and body in soups, sauces, dairy, and confectionery.
Carry flavors and nutrients: Their neutral taste and solubility make them ideal carriers in dry mixes and powdered systems.
Control sweetness: Different D.E. levels allow precise adjustment of taste and sweetness perception.
Improve processing: Instant grades dissolve quickly, reduce dust, and flow easily during handling.
Recognized ingredient: Their purity and simplicity enable clear labelling and help meet consumer expectations for transparency.

GLUCIDEX^®: A trusted ingredient for food developers

Our GLUCIDEX^® range is sourced from corn, waxy corn, wheat, potato and pea and supports a wide range of food and beverage applications, from dry mixes and sauces to dairy, snacks, and specialized nutrition.

GLUCIDEX^® stands out for its purity, solubility, and versatility. Its neutral or slightly sweet taste makes it ideal for clean-label formulations. Specific grades, including Premium and Plus, meet the highest quality and safety standards for early life nutrition.

GLUCIDEX^® standard grades

Used in soups, sauces, meat blends, dairy mixes, bakery, and confectionery, these grades enhance texture, provide bulk, and support flavor delivery.

GLUCIDEX^® IT – Instant grades

Designed for dry mixes, sports and energy drinks, beverages, and infant nutrition, these micro-granulated grades improve flow, dissolve quickly, and reduce lumping.

GLUCIDEX^® Plus and Premium – Early life nutrition

Formulated for growing-up milk and infant formulas, these grades offer safe energy, lactose partial or total replacement, and they comply with early life nutrition regulation in terms of quality and safety and offerstable organoleptic properties.