Corn bran
Corn bran suppliers and sourcing guide
Corn bran is the pericarp, the tough outer skin of the corn kernel (Zea mays), separated during dry milling or wet milling. It is mostly insoluble fiber, largely arabinoxylan and cellulose, with some starch, protein and fat depending on how cleanly it was separated. Refined grades are washed or de-starched, dried and milled into a light tan powder used in bakery, snacks and cereals; corn bran is also the raw material for corn bran arabinoxylan extracts.
- Category
- Fibers
- Also known as
- corn fiber · maize bran · Zea mays pericarp · corn hull
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of corn bran
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Dry-milled corn bran
Separated during dry milling and degermination; low in starch after cleaning.
Wet-milled corn fiber
Fiber stream from corn wet milling; contains more starch and protein unless refined.
Refined fine corn bran
Washed or de-starched and finely milled for bakery and snack use.
Corn bran arabinoxylan
Soluble arabinoxylan extracted from corn bran, sold as a separate ingredient.
Non-GMO
From non-GMO identity-preserved corn, with PCR testing.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Total dietary fiber
- Total, soluble and insoluble fiber by AOAC 991.43 or 2011.25, reported on an as-is or dry basis.
- Starch
- Residual starch by an enzymatic method, showing how cleanly the bran was separated.
- Moisture
- Loss on drying; affects flow, caking and microbial stability.
- Mycotoxins
- Aflatoxins, fumonisins and deoxynivalenol (DON) by LC-MS/MS or ELISA; these concentrate in the outer kernel.
- GMO testing
- PCR screening for genetically engineered corn events, for non-GMO claims.
- Microbiology
- Total plate count, yeast and mold, coliforms or Enterobacteriaceae, E. coli and Salmonella.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Keep corn bran cool and dry in sealed bags, off the floor and under a pest control program. Residual germ fat can turn rancid, so refined low-fat grades keep longer. Suppliers set a best-before date; use stock first-in, first-out.
Lots and expiry dates
Mycotoxins, starch and color vary by crop year, growing region and mill, so check mycotoxin results on each COA. Record corn origin and GMO status for each lot.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
Health Canada's list of dietary fibres reviewed and accepted by its Food Directorate lists corn bran, the corn grain pericarp separated by conventional dry or wet milling, as an accepted novel fibre.
Source: canada.ca (opens in a new tab)GRN 1073, for corn bran arabinoxylan (an extract, not whole corn bran) notified by AgriFiber Solutions as a formulation aid and source of dietary fiber, closed on Mar 21, 2023 with FDA having no questions.
Source: hfpappexternal.fda.gov (opens in a new tab)FDA's dietary fiber Q&A names cereal bran among foods with naturally occurring, intact fiber, and says manufacturers do not need to demonstrate physiological effects for these fibers.
Source: fda.gov (opens in a new tab)
This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Corn bran suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking corn bran suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell corn bran? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of corn bran can brands buy?
Common forms include dry-milled corn bran, wet-milled corn fiber, refined fine corn bran, corn bran arabinoxylan and non-GMO. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for corn bran include?
Expect total dietary fiber, starch, moisture, mycotoxins, gMO testing and microbiology, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should corn bran be stored?
Keep corn bran cool and dry in sealed bags, off the floor and under a pest control program. Residual germ fat can turn rancid, so refined low-fat grades keep longer. Suppliers set a best-before date; use stock first-in, first-out.
What is the regulatory status of corn bran?
Health Canada's list of dietary fibres reviewed and accepted by its Food Directorate lists corn bran, the corn grain pericarp separated by conventional dry or wet milling, as an accepted novel fibre. GRN 1073, for corn bran arabinoxylan (an extract, not whole corn bran) notified by AgriFiber Solutions as a formulation aid and source of dietary fiber, closed on Mar 21, 2023 with FDA having no questions. FDA's dietary fiber Q&A names cereal bran among foods with naturally occurring, intact fiber, and says manufacturers do not need to demonstrate physiological effects for these fibers.
More fibers
- Inulinchicory root fiber · chicory inulin
- Psyllium Huskpsyllium · ispaghula husk
- Oat beta-glucanoat bran beta-glucan · mixed-linkage (1-3),(1-4)-beta-D-glucan
- Oat fiberoat hull fiber · oat hull fibre
- Citrus fibercitrus peel fiber · dried citrus pulp
- Resistant dextrinresistant maltodextrin · soluble corn fiber
- PolydextroseE1200 · INS 1200
- Fructooligosaccharides (FOS)FOS · oligofructose
- Galactooligosaccharides (GOS)GOS · trans-galactooligosaccharides
- Xylooligosaccharides (XOS)XOS · xylo-oligosaccharides
- 2'-Fucosyllactose (HMO)2'-FL · 2'-O-fucosyllactose
- Partially hydrolyzed guar gumPHGG · hydrolyzed guar gum
Sell ingredients to brands?
Request a free listing for the ingredients you make or distribute. No paid placement.