Maize germ is one of the maize ingredients that is separated during the maize milling process. Maize germ is the endosperm of the maize kernel, a yellow, nutty, oil-rich seed. It is mainly used for extracting maize oil and making food supplements. Maize germ is a highly energetic, palatable and digestible food, providing a good source of slow-release starch. Thanks to its low fat content, it reduces the rate of coronary heart disease.
The germ represents around 11% of the weight of the grain, contains 45-50% oil and around 85% of the kernel. The germ is a separate entity that can be easily separated and then extracted to produce maize oil, giving maize germ oil meal as the main by-product.