Starch

Other names: amylum, starch

Harm score: 2 (Derivatives of natural substances)

Starch, also known as amylum or starch, is a biological substance formed by plants as an energy storage substance. This storage substance is made up of glucose and is mainly found in the seeds and rhizomes of plants such as cereals, potatoes, rice, corn or wheat.

Economically, starch is one of the most important raw materials used in many industries. For example, it is used in the food industry as a thickening agent in soups, sauces, puddings and jams, but also as an ingredient in bakery and confectionery products. Starch is also used in the textile industry in the processing of fibres. It is also found in the pharmaceutical industry, where it is used as a binder in tablets. In the cosmetics industry, starch is used, for example, as a consistency enhancer in various creams. It is also used in the paper industry and in bioplastics. Starch is also widely used in biotechnology, where it serves as a source of glucose for the production of ethanol, which is used as a biofuel.