Maltodextrin · Functional Carbohydrate Carrier & Bulking Agent

Key characteristics

• Low to moderate sweetness: typically less sweet than sucrose or glucose, helping to control sweetness in delicate applications.
• Excellent carrier properties: ideal for spray-drying flavours, colours, sweeteners and active ingredients.
• Good solubility & dispersibility: dissolves readily in water, suitable for instant beverage bases and dry mixes.
• Texture & mouthfeel: contributes body, creaminess and smooth texture in beverages, dairy and sauces.
• Low hygroscopicity (grade dependent): supports stable, free-flowing powders and reduced caking in many systems.

Different DE ranges offer different functional balances for viscosity, sweetness and osmotic pressure. Atlas helps you choose the most appropriate grade for your formulation.

Indicative specification points

Specific maltodextrin grades are selected and qualified according to your internal standards and target markets. Typical parameters include:

• Appearance: white to off-white, free-flowing powder.
• DE value range (e.g. 5–10, 10–15, 15–20) depending on grade and application.
• Controlled moisture content to support flowability and shelf life.
• Defined bulk density and particle size for instant beverage mixes and seasoning blends.
• Microbiological criteria aligned with beverage, nutrition, dairy and dry food uses.

Detailed specifications, test methods and batch COAs are shared during supplier qualification and kept aligned with your QA/QC requirements.

Instant beverages & dry drink mixes

• Instant fruit drinks and powdered soft drinks, where maltodextrin provides bulk, improves dispersibility and helps carry flavours and colours.
• Instant coffee, tea and 3-in-1 mixes, supporting mouthfeel and uniform distribution of flavours and creamers.
• Electrolyte and sports drink powders, used alongside dextrose and other carbohydrates to manage osmotic balance and powder properties.
• Meal replacement and nutrition powders, providing body and aiding the dispersion of proteins, vitamins and minerals.

Flavours, colours & seasonings

• Spray-dried flavours and colours, where maltodextrin acts as the primary carrier to protect volatile components and improve shelf life.
• Snack seasoning blends, contributing bulk and flow while carrying flavouring components and oil-soluble extracts.
• Sauce and soup bases, improving solubility and consistency in powder bases for HORECA and retail.

Dairy, confectionery & sports nutrition

• Flavoured dairy and plant-based drinks, supporting body and smooth mouthfeel with limited sweetness.
• Ice cream and frozen desserts, helping to manage solids, freezing point and texture when combined with other carbohydrates.
• Confectionery fillings and coatings, adjusting viscosity and solids in combination with sugars or polyols.
• Sports nutrition blends and mass gainers, where maltodextrin provides easily adjustable carbohydrate content and powder properties.

Formulation guidance

• Select DE value according to process and product needs: lower DE for lower sweetness and higher viscosity; higher DE for more sweetness and lower viscosity.
• Combine maltodextrin with dextrose, sucrose, polyols or fibres from the Atlas portfolio to optimise sweetness, caloric profile and stability.
• Balance water activity, solids and glass transition temperature in spray-dried powder systems.
• Review labelling and nutritional declarations (e.g. carbohydrate, sugars) with your regulatory team for each target market.

Quality & regulatory documentation

• Supplied as food-grade maltodextrin produced from starch (e.g. corn or other approved botanical sources).
• Batch-specific Certificate of Analysis (COA) covering DE value, moisture, ash and microbiological data.
• Documentation on GMO status, allergen status, contaminants, heavy metals and residual solvents available on request.
• Certificates such as ISO, FSSC, Halal, Kosher can be provided where available from the production sites.
• Customers retain responsibility for final product labelling and claims; Atlas provides transparent technical data to support internal evaluations.

Packaging, storage & logistics

• Typical packaging: 25 kg multi-ply paper bags with inner PE liner; alternative pack sizes may be evaluated for special projects.
• Options for mixed-container programmes combining maltodextrin with sweeteners, acids and other Atlas ingredients.
• Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area, away from moisture, strong odours and direct sunlight.
• Atlas organises shipments under FOB, CFR, CIF or other agreed Incoterms, handling export documentation and coordination with your nominated logistics partners where required.

Share your target applications, grade preferences, annual volume and destination markets so our team can recommend suitable maltodextrin specifications and supply options.