How is maize starch used in the food industry?

Starch is a polymeric carbohydrate/polysaccharide produced by plants as an energy source composed of two components- amylose and amylopectin. 

• Amylose- Linear chain comprising about 500–2000 units of glucose

• Amylopectin- Highly branched consisting of over 1,000,000 glucose units. Combined, they constitute approximately 98–99% of the dry weight of starch. 

Potatoes, peas, maize, cassava, wheat, tapioca etc are major starch producing crops. 

Maize is one of the starchiest crops, accounting for about 80% of the total starch production worldwide, and has varied applications across industries.

It contains carbohydrates, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, sodium, zinc and calories.

Thomas Kingsford invented cornstarch in 1842 when he discovered a way to isolate endosperms from corn kernels while working in a wheat starch factory in New Jersey.

Source: Myrecipes