Maltodextrin?

Check the supermarket shelves and make a list of products where you can see this additive listed on the label. Are there particular types of foods that have this additive?

Let's eat something with it listed (the baked beans I bought this week is a good trial!) What do you think this additive might contribute to the texture, taste or appearance of food?

But what is maltodextrin?

You can do some research on Wikipedia, Wisegeek and find a chemical company to make it.

Typing Maltodextrin into Youtube also leads to a range of videos about this chemical.

After your research, what's your view? Is maltodextrin going to kill me by Thursday?