日本語
Food additive databaseprocessing agentChecked 2026-10-02

Zein ゼイン

Existing food additiveNot on the EU additive list
Purpose
processing agent
On the label
“ゼイン” (zein), “トウモロコシたん白” (corn protein)
Name in the List of Existing Food Additives
ゼイン (No. 163)
Source and production
Obtained by extracting corn seed powder with ethanol or acetone and refining it. The main component is a plant protein belonging to the prolamins.

In Japan

  • A plant protein (a type of prolamin) obtained by extracting and refining corn seeds. Its purpose in the list of items in the List of Existing Food Additives is processing agent, and its alternate name is “トウモロコシたん白” (corn protein).
  • There are no standards for use. When labeled, it is written with its substance name “ゼイン” (zein) or its alternate name.

Japan's standards for use

There are no standards for use that limit which foods or how much (the general standards for all additives still apply).

This is a summary of the standards for use. See the source list for the exact conditions.

In the EU

  • It is not on the EU list of food additives (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II), so it cannot be used as a food additive in the EU.

Sources

Checked 2026-10-02. Rules and evaluations change over time. This page is a translation of our Japanese page; if they differ, the Japanese page is the reference.

This page lists facts stated in laws and in evaluations by public bodies; it is not a safety verdict. Additives used in Japan are approved by the government, which sets the foods and amounts they can be used in. The ADI is a guide to the amount that is considered safe to take every day over a lifetime.

Other substances used as processing agent

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