High-maltose corn syrup facts for kids

High-maltose corn syrup is a special kind of food additive that helps make foods sweet and keeps them fresh for longer. It's mostly made of a sugar called maltose. This syrup isn't as sweet as high-fructose corn syrup and has very little or no fructose in it. Even so, it's sweet enough to be used in many foods made by companies. To be called "high-maltose," the syrup must have at least 50% maltose. Usually, it has between 40% and 50% maltose, but some types can have as much as 70%.

What is High-Maltose Corn Syrup?

High-maltose corn syrup is a syrup that comes from corn. It's a type of sugar that food makers use. Think of it like a special ingredient that adds sweetness and helps food last longer. The main sugar in it is called maltose. Maltose is a type of sugar made from two glucose units joined together.

How is it Made?

To make high-maltose corn syrup, special helpers called enzymes are used. These enzymes are like tiny tools that break down starch from corn. They work by carefully taking off two glucose units at a time from the end of a starch molecule. This process creates a lot of maltose. Using these special enzymes, syrups can be made with more than 50% maltose, or even over 70% maltose. The ones with over 70% maltose are sometimes called "extra-high-maltose syrup."

Why is it "High-Maltose"?

The word "high" in high-maltose corn syrup means it has a lot of maltose. For a syrup to get this name, at least half of its sugar (50%) must be maltose. Some versions have even more, up to 70% maltose. This high amount of maltose gives the syrup its special qualities.

What is it Used For?

High-maltose corn syrup is used in many different foods and drinks. Its unique properties make it very useful for food companies.

In Candy Making

This syrup is great for making hard candy. When you make hard candy, you want it to set firm and not get sticky easily. High-maltose corn syrup helps with this. It flows more easily than other sugar syrups at the same temperature, but it still sets into a hard candy. Also, maltose doesn't attract moisture from the air as much as glucose does. This means candies made with high-maltose syrup stay less sticky.

For Frozen Treats

High-maltose corn syrup is also used in frozen desserts like ice cream. Maltose has a low freezing point. This means it helps keep frozen desserts softer and smoother. It prevents them from becoming too hard or icy.

In Brewing Beer

This syrup is also used in making beer, a process called brewing. It helps the yeast ferment well. Brewers can add a lot of this syrup to the liquid that becomes beer, which helps them make more beer faster. It also helps make the beer clearer and reduces cloudiness that can come from different qualities of malt.

Keeping Food Fresh

Another important use for high-maltose corn syrup is to help preserve food. It works by stopping tiny living things like bacteria and yeast from growing. This helps food stay fresh and safe to eat for a longer time.