Acetylated distarch glycerol

also: Modified starch

A chemically modified starch not approved as a food additive in the UK or EU. It does not appear on the UK FSA permitted list.

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E1423Plant

Acetylated distarch glycerol

E1423 is not a permitted food additive in the UK or EU.

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What acetylated distarch glycerol is, what it does and where you will see it

Why it’s worth knowing. E1423 is not a permitted food additive in the UK or EU. If you see it on a label, the product may not comply with UK food additive law.

What is it?

Acetylated distarch glycerol is a chemically modified starch made by cross-linking starch molecules with glycerol and introducing acetyl groups via acetylation. The glycerol cross-link joins two starch chains, while the acetyl groups reduce the starch's tendency to retrograde (firm up and lose water) during storage. It belongs to the broader family of modified food starches, which are used to improve texture and stability in processed foods.

What does it do?

In principle, modified starches of this type function as thickeners, stabilisers and texture agents. Cross-linking makes the starch granules more resistant to heat, acid and mechanical shear, while acetylation keeps the gel soft and smooth during freeze-thaw cycling. These properties are valued in sauces, fillings and dairy-style products. However, E1423 specifically is not authorised for use in UK or EU foods.

Where you will see it

Because E1423 is not an approved additive in the UK or EU, it should not appear in foods sold here. Authorised alternatives in the same chemical family include E1420 (acetylated starch) and E1422 (acetylated distarch adipate), which may appear on labels as 'modified starch' or by their full name.

What the science says

Not covered by EFSA's modified-starch re-evaluation

EFSA completed a systematic re-evaluation of approved modified starches in 2017, covering E1404, E1410, E1412, E1413, E1414, E1420, E1422, E1440, E1442, E1450, E1451 and E1452. E1423 was not included in that panel review because it is not an authorised additive under EU Regulation 1333/2008. No EFSA opinion or ADI has been established for E1423 as a food additive.

EFSA's 2017 re-evaluation of modified starches covered twelve permitted E-numbers but did not include E1423, which is absent from Annex II of EU Regulation 1333/2008.

2017Regulatory reviewEFSA Journal, Re-evaluation of modified starches as food additives

Not covered by the 2024 EC call for data on modified starches

In 2024, the European Commission issued a call for scientific and technical data on permitted modified starches to support a further re-evaluation. The list of covered additives did not include E1423, confirming it remains outside the authorised list and is not subject to any ongoing EC or EFSA assessment.

The 2024 EC call for data on modified starches lists E1414, E1420 and E1422 among others; E1423 is not named, confirming it holds no authorised status in the EU.

2024RegulatoryEuropean Commission, Call for scientific and technical data on permitted food additives: modified starches

Regulatory gap: not on the UK FSA approved list

The UK FSA maintains a list of all additives permitted for use in food sold in Great Britain. E1423 does not appear on that list. Under UK food law (retained from assimilated EU Regulation 1333/2008), only additives that appear on the authorised list may be used. Using a non-listed additive is non-compliant with UK food additive regulations.

E1423 is not listed among approved additives on the UK FSA's approved additives and E-numbers guidance page.

RegulatoryUK Food Standards Agency, Approved additives and E numbers

Where it stands with the regulators

Not a permitted food additive in the UK or EU. E1423 does not appear in the UK FSA approved additives list or in Annex II of assimilated EU Regulation 1333/2008.

Legal basis: UK FSA approved-additives list and assimilated EU Regulation 1333/2008 (Annex II). Only additives on the authorised list may be used in food in Great Britain.
History: The modified starch family was re-evaluated by EFSA in 2017. Twelve modified starches were covered; E1423 was not among them, confirming it holds no authorised status. A 2024 EC call for further data on modified starches similarly did not include E1423. The EU/UK approved modified starch series runs E1404, E1410, E1412, E1413, E1414, E1420, E1422, then jumps to E1440 onwards. E1423 falls in the gap and is not authorised. No historical EC authorisation dossier or EFSA evaluation for E1423 has been identified.

Who should be careful

E1423 should not be present in any food sold in the UK or EU, as it is not a permitted additive. If you encounter it on a label, look for the full name 'acetylated distarch glycerol' or 'E1423'. You may wish to contact the manufacturer or report the product to the FSA.

The honest read

E1423 occupies a gap in the E-number series for modified starches. The family on either side (E1420, E1422, E1440) is well-studied and authorised; E1423 itself has never received regulatory authorisation in the UK or EU and has no established acceptable daily intake. There is no consumer toxicology literature to weigh because it has not been assessed as a food additive. The absence from the approved list is the central fact.

Common questions about acetylated distarch glycerol

Is E1423 banned in the UK?

E1423 is not listed as a permitted food additive in the UK. Under UK food law, only additives that appear on the FSA approved list may be used. E1423 does not appear on that list, meaning its use in food sold in Great Britain is not authorised.

Why does E1423 not appear on the approved additives list?

The modified starch series authorised in the UK and EU runs E1404, E1410, E1412, E1413, E1414, E1420, E1422, and then E1440 onwards. E1423 falls in the gap and was not included in the EU authorisation process, EFSA's 2017 re-evaluation of modified starches, or the 2024 EC call for further data. It has no established regulatory status.

What foods contain E1423?

E1423 should not appear in any food sold legally in the UK or EU, as it is not an authorised additive. If you see it on a UK food label, the product may not comply with food additive regulations.

Is E1423 vegan?

E1423 is not an authorised additive in the UK or EU and should not appear in food sold here. If it were ever authorised, its vegan status would depend on the source of the glycerol used in production. Glycerol can be derived from plant fats, animal fats, or biodiesel by-products, and without supply chain documentation you cannot determine which was used. The starch base itself is plant-derived.