Ingredient Information

Function

Hydrolyzed corn gluten, also called hydrolyzed corn, is a corn gluten that has undergone hydrolysis. Hydrolysis breaks down the corn proteins into their component amino acids. Hydrolyzed corn gluten is water soluble, and considered to be safe in food amounts. However it is rarely used in human food consumption because of its strong, fermented taste. Hydrolyzed corn gluten is sometimes found in processed foods like spaghetti.

Other Use and Industries

Hydrolyzed corn gluten is sometimes used as an environmentally friendly herbicide for lawns, vegetable gardens, and flower beds. It is found in animal food as a protein supplement.

Health Effects

Hydrolyzed corn gluten is essentially glutamic acid, which is a type of MSG. MSG has been shown to have negative effects on the human body, such as headaches, nausea, fuzzy thinking, diarrhea, heart irregularity, asthma, and mood swings. Only small amounts in food should be used. Currently, there is no regulation regarding the amounts of MSG that can be present in food. Because hydrolyzed corn gluten has some different components than typical monosodium glutamate (MSG), food labels are not required to state that the ingredient essentially is MSG and has the same side effects as MSG. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) claims that hydrolyzed corn is not toxic.

Medical Concern:
Individuals with corn allergies or MSG allergies should not consume hydrolyzed corn gluten.

Cultural Concern: None

Hydrolyzed corn gluten is used as a natural herbicide. It is not usually added to food because of its strong taste. This term indicates the presence of processed free glutamatic acid, the active ingredient in MSG, which can elevate blood pressure when consumed.

Origins

Hydrolyzed corn gluten is produced from the hydrolysis of corn gluten meal. The process breaks down the corn proteins into their component amino acids, resulting in glutamic acid, which is a type of MSG.

Corn gluten is comprised of 60% protein, and is obtained as a by-product of the wet milling process of corn.