Glucoamylase — Hidden Processing Agent — Is It Vegan?
Also known as: Amyloglucosidase, Glucan 1,4-alpha-glucosidase, AMG
Vegan
No animals or animal-derived substances are involved in producing this agent.
Not required on labels
Not required to appear on final product labels when used as a processing aid.
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.
How to Avoid
No need to avoid — glucoamylase is vegan.
Editorial 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.