Stiffening agents are substances used to increase the stiffness of a material. STARCH is a common stiffening agent, and is composed of glucose molecules that form long chains. It is often used in food products, such as breads and pastries, to give them structure and texture. STARCH is also used in the textile industry to stiffen fabrics and make them easier to work with. In addition, STARCH is used in papermaking to improve the strength and opacity of the paper.