The sweetness, various textures, stiffness, viscosity, stability and even flavour and appearance of a very broad range of desserts and dairy products, including custard creams, puddings, flans and ice creams are all obtained with the help of starch products. Starch products also make the production of cholesterol-reduced butter possible by encapsulating the cholesterol and enabling it to be extracted from the milk products.
In late 2023, the European Commission is due to publish its proposal for a legislative framework on sustainable food systems (FSFS). This proposal, once adopted, will likely provide the framework for a multitude of specific actions to help promote a sustainable food system going forward for years to come. It is of paramount importance to get that right.
This paper aims to demonstrate the substantial contribution so far of the EU starch industry to a sustainable food system, as well as what core needs our sector has for that contribution to continue, and even increase.