Glucose Syrup Identity, Composition and Trade Evidence

Editorial evidence reviewedReviewed 2026-09-16Release 2026-09-19-batch-230

Market value

$8.4B

Producing countries tracked

4

Grading systems

1

Active supply risks

3

Trade corridors

3

Latest reviewed evidence

The figures below are product-definition and composition limits from Codex CXS 212-1999, EU Directive 2001/111/EC and current US 21 CFR 168.120. They retain their jurisdiction, product form and analytical basis and must not be averaged into a universal commercial grade. They do not establish current lot compliance, availability, a physical offer or a live delivered glucose-syrup price.

Codex glucose syrup minimum total solids

70

percent by mass · CXS 212-1999, current standard listed 2022

Codex glucose syrup minimum dextrose equivalent

20

percent by mass as D-glucose on dry basis · CXS 212-1999, current standard listed 2022

Codex dried glucose syrup minimum total solids

93

percent by mass · CXS 212-1999, current standard listed 2022

Codex glucose syrup maximum sulphated ash

1

percent by mass on dry basis; voluntary commercial-partner annex · CXS 212-1999, current standard listed 2022

Codex glucose syrup maximum sulphur dioxide

20

milligrams per kilogram final product; ordinary glucose syrup · CXS 212-1999, current standard listed 2022

United States glucose sirup maximum sulphur dioxide

40

milligrams per kilogram · 21 CFR 168.120, current through 2026-09-14

Glucose syrup, dried syrup, dextrose and maltodextrin are separate identities

Codex defines glucose syrup as a purified concentrated aqueous solution of nutritive saccharides obtained from starch and/or inulin, with at least 20 percent dextrose equivalent on a dry basis and at least 70 percent total solids. Dried glucose syrup has at least 93 percent total solids. Dextrose is purified crystalline D-glucose, while maltodextrin and invert sugar products follow different identities and specifications. Atlas keeps feedstock, form, saccharide profile, processing route and applicable standard explicit before comparing quality, price or trade records.

Dextrose equivalent and solids answer different questions

Dextrose equivalent measures reducing-sugar content expressed as D-glucose on a dry basis; total solids describes the non-water fraction. A 20 DE minimum does not identify the complete saccharide profile, viscosity, sweetness, feedstock, fructose content or intended use. Codex and the EU use a 70 percent minimum total-solids definition for liquid glucose syrup and 93 percent for dried syrup. Atlas retains the analytical method, dry-basis convention, sample and laboratory result with each figure.

Jurisdiction, sulphur dioxide and naming travel with the lot

Codex permits 20 milligrams per kilogram sulphur dioxide in ordinary glucose syrup and dried glucose syrup, with separate higher provisions for confectionery manufacture. Current US 21 CFR 168.120 sets a 40 milligram per kilogram maximum and defines glucose sirup from edible starch. EU rules allow starch and/or inulin and require glucose syrups containing more than 5 percent fructose on a dry-matter basis to use glucose-fructose or fructose-glucose naming according to predominance. Atlas does not transfer one jurisdiction's limit or name into another.

A product standard is not a delivered physical glucose-syrup price

Composition limits define product boundaries, not current supply or delivered cost. A physical estimate still requires liquid or dried form, feedstock, dextrose equivalent, solids and saccharide profile, quality and residue results, permitted current physical observations, package and quantity, currency, Incoterm, origin, destination, delivery window, freight, storage and information vintage. Atlas withholds a physical estimate when those observations or usage rights are missing.

Questions procurement teams ask

Are glucose syrup and dried glucose syrup interchangeable?

No. Codex defines liquid glucose syrup with at least 70 percent total solids and dried glucose syrup with at least 93 percent. Form, handling, concentration and commercial use therefore remain explicit.

Does dextrose equivalent identify the full glucose-syrup grade?

No. It expresses reducing sugars as D-glucose on a dry basis. Feedstock, full saccharide profile, solids, fructose, ash, sulphur dioxide, colour, pH, viscosity, microbiology and intended use still matter.

Why do Codex and US sulphur-dioxide limits differ?

They are separate regulatory or standards frameworks. Codex states 20 milligrams per kilogram for ordinary glucose syrup, while current US 21 CFR 168.120 states 40 milligrams per kilogram. Atlas preserves the applicable jurisdiction instead of averaging them.

Which fields make physical glucose-syrup offers comparable?

Liquid or dried form, starch or inulin source and botanical origin, dextrose equivalent and method, total solids, saccharide and fructose profile, sulphated ash, sulphur dioxide, colour, pH, viscosity, microbiology and contaminants, allergens and processing aids, package, lot, quantity, currency, Incoterm, origin, destination, delivery window, storage and evidence date.