Growing Health Concerns and Pharmaceutical Applications Driving Demand for Starch Derivatives to Reach $75 Billion by 2022
Health issues regarding the use of synthetic ingredients, such as sweeteners, have been gaining ground, prompting food and beverage manufacturers to seek out viable alternatives. Consumption of calorie-rich artificial sweeteners has been directly linked to an increase in low-density lipoprotein or "bad" cholesterol. Starch derivatives are derived by treating starch physically, chemically or enzymatically to obtain compounds with properties different from native starches. These products find wide application in several industries for a range of functions. In the food and beverage industry, starch derivatives are used as thickeners and stabilizers, while their pharmaceutical applications include tablet binders and drug release agents. Starch derivatives also find application in the cosmetics industry as emulsifiers and as fiber additives in the animal feed sector. Some starch derivatives, such as glucose syrup and maltodextrin that are low in calorie content are being extensi...