Production of purified, parenterally administrable starch by washing starch containing more than 85% amylopectin in order to remove surface-localized proteins, lipids and endotoxins, dissolving the starch in aqueous medium, molecular weight reduction by shearing, and optionally removal of residual water-soluble proteins, preferably by anion exchange chromatography.Purified starch and microparticles based on such starch.