Glucoamylase — Hidden Processing Agent — Is It Vegan?

Vegan status: Vegan

Also known as: Amyloglucosidase, Glucan 1,4-alpha-glucosidase, AMG

Source

Produced by microbial fermentation — primarily from Aspergillus niger. Entirely microbial and vegan.

Used in

Beer brewing (complete starch conversion in high-adjunct brewing), glucose syrup production for food manufacturing, production of high-fructose corn syrup, bioethanol production.

Appears on label: No. Not required to appear on final product labels when used as a processing aid.

How to avoid

No need to avoid — glucoamylase is vegan.

Notes

Glucoamylase completes the saccharification process that alpha-amylase begins — it releases individual glucose units from starch chains. Used in the production of low-carbohydrate ('fully attenuated') beers. Also a critical enzyme in industrial biotechnology for converting starch to glucose for various fermentation processes.