Aluminum residue in starch products was investigated to provide the basis for revising the standard and strengthening the safety supervision of starch products.Methods A total of 256 samples, including vermicelli, cellophane noodle and other packaged or bulk starch products within shelf life were collected randomly from large and medium-sized supermarkets, greengrocer in residential area, wholesale markets and terminal-market in Zhengzhou and its surrounding counties to detect aluminum residues according to the national standard GB/T 5009.182-2003 Entitled Determination of Aluminum in Flour Products, and were evaluated by GB 2760-2011 Food Additive Standard and with 100 mg/kg as reference according to GB 2762-2005 Food Allowable Level of Pollutants for flour products (dry weight). Results Among 60 cellophane noodle samples, the detection rate was 66.67%, the content was ranged in 0-267.50 mg/kg with the mean value of 27.16 mg/kg and the median of 16.40 mg/kg. Among 114 vermicelli samples, the detection rate was 92.11%, the content was ranged in 0-696.30 mg/kg with the mean value of 171.36 mg/kg and the median of 123.50 mg/kg, and the highest content was about 6 times of the limit. Among 12 jelly sheet samples, the detection rate was 75.00%, the content was ranged in 0-1 041.80 mg/kg with the mean value of 113.95 mg/kg and the median of 22.55 mg/kg. Among 10 menzi samples, the detection rate was 100.00%, the content was ranged from 46.10 to 235.20 mg/kg with the mean value of 96.88 mg/kg and the median of 69.95 mg/kg. Among 60 bean jelly, the detection rate was 90.00%, the content was ranged in 0-393.70 mg/kg with the mean value of 57.62 mg/kg and the median of 46.65 mg/kg, and the highest content was about 3 times of the limit.Conclusion There was a high level of aluminum residue in some starch products, and was mainly related to the use of aluminum containing food additives. It was necessary to strengthen the safety supervision of starch products.