When is cornflour not cornflour?

@JudyEv (381739)
Rockingham, Australia
March 21, 2026 3:36am CST
We have a packet of Nurses cornflour in our pantry but it says it’s made from wheat so what the heck? I decided to ask ChatGPT for its opinion. ChatGPT originally said that, in places like Australia, the UK, and New Zealand, cornflour is made from corn (maize). It might be called cornstarch in America. In America, cornflour is more likely to mean finely ground cornmeal. When I asked it how come our packet said it was made from wheat, its first response was ‘Good catch’! It then went to say that historically in Australia, some products kept the name cornflour, although not strictly from corn. This packet hasn't changed at all since I was a young girl.
13 people like this
12 responses
Anna
@LadyDuck (502148)
• Italy
21 Mar
This is really weird! We use corn flour when we know that someone is gluten intolerant, should it be made with wheat it would be a problem. Cornflour is called "Maizena" here because made from mais (corn). It's even more fine than flour and it's white.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar
This is very fine and very white but it does contain gluten. Hopefully people read the packaging if they're worried.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502148)
• Italy
22 Mar
@JudyEv - I hope they do. I use cornflour to thicken sauces.
1 person likes this
DE
@DaddyEvil (174208)
• United States
21 Mar
That does sound very odd. I haven't heard of this before and wonder about people who are allergic to wheat. Will this still make them sick?
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar
Yes, it contains gluten.
1 person likes this
celticeagle
@celticeagle (189793)
• Boise, Idaho
21 Mar
Nice when products stay the same over time.
1 person likes this
celticeagle
@celticeagle (189793)
• Boise, Idaho
22 Mar
@JudyEv ............Amazing.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar
Even the packaging hasn't changed since I was a child.
1 person likes this
Marie
@Tampa_girl7 (54714)
• United States
21 Mar
I bet that was a surprise to find out. I wonder how many things are not what we think ?
1 person likes this
Marie
@Tampa_girl7 (54714)
• United States
22 Mar
@JudyEv Yes, I can remember it.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar
I don't think we have as many corn products as you do. Nurses cornflour has been around forever.
1 person likes this
Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Mar
Very interesting. So in this case, it appears that "cornflour" has become part of the name of the brand, more so than the actual product. That can be very confusing, but that's why it's important to always read the labels and packaging!
1 person likes this
Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Mar
@JudyEv I would be one of those people who looks at the packaging at a quick glance; I'm not one to usually read labels very thoroughly.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Mar
@moffittjc Nurses Cornflour has been around so long it's just part and parcel of the grocery shelves. When I was small, corn was never a 'thing' in any form but now with so many people needing to eat gluten free I just take a bit more notice I guess.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar
Yes, you're right. It's been 'cornflour' forever. However, newcomers to the product would read the packaging.
1 person likes this
Jimbo45
@Ineeddentures (33871)
•
22 Mar
Ah well. I have no idea I thought it was made from corn
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar
It sounds like it oughta be!!
1 person likes this
Heather Echola
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
21 Mar
That is so strange. I hope it is not used for people who must be gluten free.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar
It contains gluten but this has been on sale since the year dot so hopefully everyone knows about it.
Amber
@AmbiePam (120533)
• United States
21 Mar
Yes, we call it corn starch. I rarely use it though. You find out such vague, but interesting things.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar
Some things just suddenly strike me. Like Professor Sumner Miller says, I think 'why is it so?'
1 person likes this
snowy
@snowy22315 (208746)
• United States
21 Mar
Funny, who knew? They do call it cornstarch here.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Mar
I asked AI about it and that's what they said too.
1 person likes this
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (135583)
• Marion, Ohio
21 Mar
As long as it works
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar
For sure.
1 person likes this
Xavier Bage
@franxav (14588)
• India
21 Mar
Good catch! As ChatGPT says! One very thing can have a different name in another place. I find it amusing after visiting different parts of one country.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar
It pays to read the packaging very carefully if you're in another country.
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (222222)
• United States
21 Mar
That's very strange. There's a big difference in thickening something with cornstarch and with flour.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar
I've never used cornstarch so I'm used to thickening liquids with this.
1 person likes this