Maltodextrin powder is a major food ingredient. It is used as a carrier for food flavors. Maltodextrin has a dextrose equivalent of 10. Meaning it has 10 percent of the sweetness value of dextrose which would be approximately 1/17 (6%) as sweet as sugar.

As a rather common additive to a number of different types of foods, maltodextrin is classified as a sweet polysaccharide. While containing sweet qualities, maltodextrin is considered to contain fewer calories than sugar.