Corn Gluten Meal Uses
- Corn gluten meal comes from corn kernels in the milling process. It is a powdery yellow substance that can be used in a variety of products, from corn syrup and corn starch, to an additive in pet food or a herbicide.
- It is a key ingredient in corn syrup and corn starch (and may be found in other corn-based sweeteners). Corn gluten meal is not a primary ingredient in other human-grade food products, and although nontoxic, is not palatable as a ingredient or food on its own.
- Corn gluten meal is found in domesticated pet foods, as well as livestock foods. It is used as a non-animal high protein food source, as it contains more than 60% protein. It is oftentimes used in conjunction with poultry meal in pet foods.
- In 1993, a patent was issued for corn gluten meal as a herbicide. Corn gluten meal is effectively used as a herbicide on established lawns, as it inhibits growth of new weeds by drying out seeds as they open to grow. It is nontoxic, and according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it has no known adverse effects for humans, mammals, birds, or fish.
- Corn gluten meal is also registered as a pesticide with the EPA. It is classified as a "minimum risk pesticide," meaning that it is exempt from normal pesticide registration requirements.
- This corn byproduct has a range of uses, from being an ingredient in certain corn-based foods for humans, to being a high-protein additive to livestock and processed pet foods, to being a safe and nontoxic product to prevent weeds and pest in lawns and established crops. This versatile byproduct has been reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration, as well as the EPA, and has been deemed safe for its varied uses.
