Is starch ever present in animal products, e.g, meat, milk or eggs. Explain?

Answer 1

G'day Miss Bio,

Thank you for your question.

Starch is found in plants but not in animals. Starch is often found in the fruit, seeds, rhizomes or tubers of plants. The four major resources for starch production and consumption in the USA are corn, potatoes, rice, and wheat. Pasta is an important dietary source of starch which is commonly prepared from wheat, rice or beans. Bread is another important source of starch and is commonly prepared from wheat.

As an additive for food processing, arrowroot and tapioca are commonly used as well. Commonly used starches around the world are: arracacha, buckwheat, banana, barley, cassava, kudzu, oca, sago, sorghum, sweet potato, taro and yams. Edible beans, such as favas, lentils and peas, are also rich in starch.

When a starch is pre-cooked, it can then be used to thicken cold foods. This is referred to as a pregelatinized starch. Otherwise starch requires heat to thicken, or "gelatinize." The actual temperature depends on the type of starch.

A modified food starch undergoes one or more chemical modifications that allow it to function properly under high heat and/or shear frequently encountered during food processing. Food starches are typically used as thickeners and stabilizers in foods such as puddings, soups, sauces, gravies, pie fillings, and salad dressings, but have many other uses.

Thank you for your question.

Regards

Answer 2

Considering starch is basically a complex carbohydrate... I doubt it.