<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> I called the Corn Refiners Association (202-331-1634)(fax 202-331-2054) located at 1701 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20006-5805 in August 1997 to ask them regarding Modified Corn Starch because of some discussion on the Monday Celiac Chat. There are two ways to modify corn starch. One type of modified corn starch is called Oxidized Corn Starch. They use oxidation to alter the properties of the starch using oxidizing agents such as chlorine, hydrgen peroxide, potassium permanganate, or sodium hypochlorite (which is the oxidizing agent used primarily by the corn wet milling industry). The second type of modified corn starch is called Acid-modified Corn Starch. The starch is "suspended in water and agitated, and is subjected to mild treatment with dilute mineral acid at elevated temperatures," according to the material faxed to me. When the tests show the desired viscosity, the acid is neutralized with sodium carbonate and the starch is filtered, washed and dried. The material I received mentions much more than this, and can obtained from contacting them at the address and phone number listed above. I do not know if these items used in the processing are gluten free, however--big however, I have a call out to Dannon Yogurt regarding their Modified Corn Starch. I made contact on 8/21/97 and they are still working on my question. They told me during my inquiry that the corn starch is modified using vinegar as the acid. I was concerned about the ingredients in the vinegar. Their headquarters is looking into it; infact they have called back to let me know they have not forgotten me. If this "modified corn starch" was modified using vinegar, other companies may also be using a modified corn starch which has been modified using a vinegar of unknown origin which may or may not contain gluten. The verdict is still out on whether white distilled vinegar manufacturing companies are adding gluten containing ingredients during there processing. This may be the reason Dannon is taking so long to get back to me. I will let the list know what I found out. Until I find out from Dannon, I am avoiding their flavored yogurts containing modified corn starch, which I have had problems with before. And I am avoiding all products containing modified corn starch, because I have no idea whether or not they contain gluten. --- Abigail St Paul, Minnesota "To be nobody but myself in a world which is doing its best night and day to make me everybody else, is to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight and never stop fighting." e e cummings