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
    

    See Also:
       Toxicological Abbreviations