Maltodextrin -- is it all natural?

I live in a very healthy and health conscious society here in LA and I LOVE that. And since I rep an all-natural line of food products it does fit in well with that society. But it also means I get asked some health/product/ingredient related questions that I can not answer. Recently I was asked if Maltodextrin was all-natural as it is listed as an ingredient in a few of our products.
Well like any good rep -- I called the home office to find out! And anyone interested in any Wildtree product or ingredient could to the same by calling Wildtree at 1-800-672-4050 or asking their local rep.
We do in fact use Maltodextrin and it is in fact all natural and also gluten free! Wildtree is very cautious about the sources of their ingredients. Maltodextrin is a carbohydrate and natural cornstarch. In our case it is used as a natural drying agent. For example when we have a liquid spice that we want to use in one of our dry spice blends natural cornstarch maltodextrin is used to "dry" that liquid so it can be used in the dry blend.
The wise geek blog had a great post on the safety of maltodextrin (http://www.wisegeek.com/is-maltodextrin-unsafe.htm). Like many things in the world these days there are people with allergies to maltodextrin just like people have allergies to corn, eggs, peanuts, strawberries and many other natural items. However if you are not allergic, this is a safe all natural ingredient.

Quick Pumpkin Soup = Happy dinner time

I saw this recipe in a pure + simple magazine that I picked up at my Chiropractor's office. I went home and placed an order for Wildtree's Thai red curry paste that night and anxiously awaited for the box! This recipe was so easy to make and was on the table in about 10 minutes!!!! Just enough time for me to throw together some Udi's Gluten Free grilled cheese sandwiches (compliments of my GF bestest that visited this weekend) to go with it!

I altered the original recipe a bit:
1. I specifically used the WT Thai red curry paste because I love it and
am looking for new uses for it.
2. It called for 1 cup of coconut milk and 1 cup of water. I wanted a creamier
texture and taste so I up the coconut milk to 1 1/4 cup and decreased the water
to 1/2 cup.


I hope you enjoy this really quick, delicious, healthy and easy fall comfort recipe!


WT Curry Pumpkin Soup

15 oz. canned pumpkin (not pie filling just pureed pumpkin)

2 TBSP WT Thai Red Curry Paste

1 1/4 cup coconut milk (I used lite as I had it in my pantry)

1/2 cup water


Put pumpkin, curry paste, coconut milk and water in a pot on medium hi heat.

Stir or whisk to mix well.

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Allow to warm.

Can add toasted pumpkin seeds to top the soup and add some crunch.


Butter Toasted Pumpkin Seeds

4 tsp. pumpkin seeds, dried

1 teaspoon WT Butter Flavor Grapeseed oil


Heat oil and pumpkin seeds in a skillet until slightly browned and toasty.

Season with salt and pepper.