Rice starch

Rice starch suppliers and sourcing guide

Rice starch is extracted from milled or broken rice (Oryza sativa), usually by soaking the rice in a mild alkaline solution to remove protein, then wet milling, washing and drying the starch. Its granules are among the smallest of the commercial starches, which gives a smooth, fine texture. Brands buy it as a hypoallergenic thickener, a tablet and capsule filler, and as a base for rice maltodextrin and cosmetic powders.

See suppliers What to ask for on the COA

Category: Starches, carriers and excipients
Also known as: Oryza sativa starch · Starch, rice
Facts checked: November 2026

Forms and grades of rice starch

Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.

Native rice starch
Unmodified starch with very fine granules, used where a smooth mouthfeel or fine powder is wanted.
Waxy rice starch
From glutinous rice varieties, almost all amylopectin, used for freeze-thaw stable sauces and fillings.
Pregelatinized rice starch
Cooked and dried for cold-water thickening.
Organic
Starch from certified organic rice, offered by a smaller number of mills.

What to check on the COA

Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.

Identity and starch content: Microscopy and iodine identity with starch content on a dry basis.
Protein: Residual protein, which shows how completely the rice protein was removed.
Moisture and ash: Loss on drying and ash against the supplier specification.
Heavy metals: Lead, cadmium and especially arsenic by ICP-MS, since rice takes up arsenic from soil and water.
Microbiology: Total plate count, yeast and mold, coliforms or E. coli, and Salmonella. Starches are dry and low in water activity, but buyers using them uncooked in powders or tablets check micro on every lot.

Storage, lots and expiry

Storage and shelf life

Store sealed in a cool, dry area off the floor and away from odors. Rice starch is a fine powder that dusts easily and absorbs moisture, so reseal opened bags. Shelf life follows the supplier specification, with moisture and micro retested on older stock.

Lots and expiry dates

Protein, moisture and arsenic results can differ between lots and rice origins. Record origin and heavy-metal results per lot, and compare them against your own limits before release.

Regulatory status

Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.

FDA's Substances Added to Food inventory lists rice starch (also called Oryza sativa starch) with the technical effect "stabilizer or thickener".
Source: hfpappexternal.fda.gov (opens in a new tab)
Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists rice starch with Oryza sativa seed as the source material and non-medicinal purposes of binder, diluent and disintegrant, for oral use only.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)

This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.

Rice starch suppliers

Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.

We are checking rice starch suppliers now

Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.

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Frequently asked questions

What forms of rice starch can brands buy?

Common forms include native rice starch, waxy rice starch, pregelatinized rice starch and organic. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.

What should the COA for rice starch include?

Expect identity and starch content, protein, moisture and ash, heavy metals and microbiology, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.

How should rice starch be stored?

What is the regulatory status of rice starch?

FDA's Substances Added to Food inventory lists rice starch (also called Oryza sativa starch) with the technical effect "stabilizer or thickener". Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists rice starch with Oryza sativa seed as the source material and non-medicinal purposes of binder, diluent and disintegrant, for oral use only.

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