Process for preparing an inhibited starch

1. A process for preparing an inhibited starch comprising, in order:

a) extracting starch from a native source and partially refining to provide a partially refined starch having a residual protein content on a dry starch basis of more than 1.0% by weight and less than 8.0% by weight;

b) treating said partially refined starch with a bleaching agent to provide an inhibited starch; and

c) recovering said inhibited starch.

2. A process according to claim 1 , further comprising, after said bleaching b):

b′) treating the inhibited starch with a protease to remove residual protein.

3. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the residual protein content on a dry starch basis of the partially refined starch is more than 1.0% by weight and less than 4.0% by weight.

4. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the residual protein content on a dry starch basis of the partially refined starch is more than 1.2% by weight and less than 3.0% by weight.

5. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the residual protein content on a dry starch basis of the partially refined starch is more than 1.3% by weight and less than 2.5% by weight.

6. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the partially refined starch having a residual protein content on a dry starch basis of more than 0.4% by weight and less than 8.0% by weight is obtained by mixing two or more starch streams of differing residual protein contents.

7. A process according to claim 6 , wherein a partially refined starch stream is mixed with a refined starch stream.

8. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the native source is waxy.

9. A process according to claim 8 , wherein the native source is selected from the group consisting of waxy maize (corn), waxy rice, waxy wheat, waxy sorghum, waxy barley and waxy potato.

10. A process according to claim 9 , wherein the native source is waxy maize (corn).

11. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the bleaching agent comprises a source of active chlorine.

12. A process according to claim 11 , wherein the bleaching agent comprises hypochlorite.

13. A process according to claim 12 , wherein the hypochlorite is an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal hypochlorite.

14. A process according to claim 13 , wherein the hypochlorite is sodium hypochlorite.

15. An inhibited starch obtained by the process according to claim 1 .

16. A method for preparing a food product, wherein the method comprises using an inhibited starch according to claim 15 .

17. A method according to claim 16 , wherein the food product is an acidic food product.

18. A food product comprising an inhibited starch according to claim 15 .

19. A food product according to claim 18 , wherein the food product is an acidic food product.

20. A food product according to claim 18 , wherein the food product is selected from the group consisting of high acid foods having a pH below 3.7, acid foods having a pH of from 3.7 to 4.5, low acid foods having a pH above 4.5, stove top-cooked foods, instant foods, pourable and spoonable salad dressings, refrigerated foods, frozen foods, microwaveable foods, liquid products, dry mixes, encapsulated flavours and clouds.

21. A food product according to claim 20 , wherein the high acid foods are selected from the group consisting of fruit-based pie fillings, and baby foods; the acid foods are selected from the group consisting of tomato-based products; the low acid foods are selected from the group consisting of gravies, sauces, and soups; the stove top-cooked foods are selected from the group consisting of sauces, gravies, and puddings; the instant foods are selected from the group consisting of puddings; the refrigerated foods are selected from the group consisting of dairy and imitation dairy products; the frozen foods are selected from the group consisting of frozen desserts and dinners; the microwaveable foods are selected from the group consisting of frozen dinners; the liquid products are selected from the group consisting of diet products and hospital foods; and the dry mixes are selected from the group consisting of dry mixes for preparing baked goods, gravies, sauces, puddings, baby foods, hot cereals, and dry mixes for predusting foods prior to batter cooking and frying.

22. A food product according to claim 20 , wherein the food product is selected from the group consisting of high acid foods having a pH below 3.7, acid foods having a pH of from 3.7 to 4.5, low acid foods having a pH above 4.5, stove top-cooked foods, instant foods, pourable and spoonable salad dressings, refrigerated foods, frozen foods, and microwaveable foods.

23. A non-food product comprising an inhibited starch according to claim 5 .

24. A non-food product according to claim 23 , wherein the non-food product is selected from the group consisting of cosmetic and personal care products, paper, packaging, pharmaceutical, formulations, and adhesives.