The present invention relates to a stabilizer comprising starch that comprises at least one ester group corresponding to the formula (I) wherein M+ is an alkali metal, M2+ is an alkaline earth metal, R is an alkylene radical and R′ is an alkyl or alkenyl group having 5 to 18 carbon atoms and less than 0.1% by weight of free alkyldicarboxylic acid compounds or alkenyldicarboxylic acid compounds or mixtures thereof, based on the total weight of the starch, a method for the production thereof, and also to the use thereof for increasing the stability of a substance that is to be stabilized.