The US starch industry, also known as the wet corn milling, corn wet-milling, and the
corn refi ning industry, has grown rapidly and starch production has expanded in several
other countries. Although people continue to consume some starch directly from
starch-bearing plants, either raw or cooked, their demands for commercially produced
starch to be added to foods and beverages have increased signifi cantly. Starch
use in a broad range of industrial products such as paper, textiles, building materials
and alcohol for fuel has also expanded.