Because it starts as plant starch, maltodextrin is vegan. It is nearly everywhere in processed food as a filler and carrier, including as the bulking agent in many powdered sweeteners, and none of that changes its plant origin.
Silicon dioxide (silica, E551)Silicon dioxide is sand, essentially, added to keep powders from clumping. There is nothing animal about a mineral.
InulinInulin is a prebiotic fibre pulled mostly from chicory root. It is plant storage carbohydrate, plain and simple.
Caramel colour (E150)Caramel colour is burnt sugar, more or less, the brown in cola and gravy browning. It is almost always vegan, with a rare footnote about the sugar it starts from.
Frequently asked
Is maltodextrin animal-derived?
No. Maltodextrin is made from plant starch such as corn, wheat, rice or tapioca, so it is vegan.
Is maltodextrin gluten-free?
It is usually made from corn, rice or tapioca and is generally considered gluten-free even when from wheat, because processing removes the protein. Certified products are available for those who need certainty.
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