Breaking down barriers: The rise of tasty and fiber-fortified solutions

22 Feb 2024 --- Despite growing consumer awareness of the importance of adequate fiber intake, industry experts note that fiber consumption still lags behind the daily recommended intake. Speaking to Nutrition Insight, representatives of ADM, Univar Solutions and Sensus highlight fortified foods as an effective way to address the persistent lack of fiber in Western diets.

“While more than 95% of consumers fall short of the recommended daily fiber intake, nearly 80% of consumers believe fiber is important and try to include it in their diet,” says Paula Limena, vice president of global marketing and health & wellness at ADM. “This demonstrates a continued need for fiber fortification, and there are great opportunities for fiber inclusion, particularly with the ongoing convergence of dietary supplements, foods and beverages.”

“Fiber fortification has long been an attractive strategy for the industry due to the persistent fiber gap in the Western diet,” adds Silvi Siddhu, global director of nutraceuticals at Univar Solutions. “The positive health benefits of fiber are widely known, so it remains a priority for many consumers and the industry.”

Experts identify breakfast cereals, baked goods, snacks, nutrition bars, and dairy as the most popular fiber-fortified food groups, with juices and sodas becoming increasingly popular.“An interesting trend in 2024 is health brands moving into indulgence whereas comforting treats come with added goodness,” comments Yvette Deirkauf, technical sales support at Sensus.

“Consumers seek health benefits through indulgent formats. The Sensus consumer survey of 2023 showed that consumers have a strong awareness about the influence of gut health on well-being and show increasing interest in fibers and prebiotics.” 

Current trends
Experts across companies agree that there is an increased interest in fiber fortification products for gut health while pointing out the consumer expectation for such products to not only be healthy but also to have an enjoyable taste. 

“Breakfast cereals, bakery goods, snacks and nutrition bars are some of the most abundantly available products enriched with fiber,” Univar Solutions’ Siddhu details. “Dairy, particularly yogurt, is a growing category where fiber fits in very well. Functional sodas and juices with added soluble prebiotic fibers are attractive, though less expected, categories that may resonate with younger consumers.” 

Linking back to the Sensus consumer survey results, Deirkauf comments: “The chicory root fibers inulin and oligofructose fully fit into this trend since they confer health benefits. They are soluble fibers and come with a neutral to pleasant, sweet taste, making it easy to develop tasty and healthier fiber-fortified products.”

“Sensus Frutafit inulin and Frutalose oligofructose are proven prebiotic fibers,” she continues. “They pass through the upper digestive system intact, reaching the colon where they are fermented by the gut microbiota conferring digestive health benefits, notably improving bowel habit and digestive health. Moreover, a healthy gut microbiota is linked to supporting the immune system and even mental health.”

Similarly, discussing consumer trends in fiber fortification, Limena points out: “Globally, 50% of consumers find digestive function and gut health support appealing when considering food and drink products.”

“This bodes well for dietary fiber solutions, as it is the number one ingredient consumers seek to help support digestion,” she adds. “At the same time, consumers are concerned that certain fiber solutions will result in gastrointestinal discomfort. Prebiotic soluble dietary fibers, backed by research, can help solve this challenge and garner consumer trust.” 

Chicory root inulin and oligofructose are the only plant-based, officially recognized prebiotic fibers available on the market.Health benefits
The experts emphasize that fiber fortification is key to digestive health, which also links to other aspects of holistic health. 

“At Univar Solutions, we offer both soluble and insoluble fibers from various sources for multiple applications,” explains Siddhu. “The health benefits range from digestive regularity to prebiotic effects beneficial for gut health and beyond.” 

“For example, inulin is an excellent prebiotic fiber that can not only stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut, but it can also provide structural benefits by replacing sugar and fat. This contributes to a better nutritional panel, and inulin is also associated with improved calcium absorption, contributing to bone health,” she adds. 

Senus’ Deirkauf adds that chicory root inulin and oligofructose contribute to digestive health and are the only plant-based, officially recognized prebiotic fibers available on the market.

“Chicory root fiber selectively increases the abundance of beneficial bacteria in the human gastrointestinal tract, in particular bifidobacteria, and with that contribute to a healthy gut microbiota conferring physiological health benefits in the general population. This results in beneficial health effects, notably improving bowel habit and digestive health,” she continues.

“More recently, there is increasing scientific evidence for chicory root fibers in supporting conditions beyond the gut such as modulating immunity, insulin resistance underlying (pre)diabetes, obesity and inflammation.” 

Appetite regulation
Meanwhile, ADM’s Limena spots the benefits of fiber fortification for customers interested in weight management. “ADM/Matsutani’s Fibersol may delay hunger and stimulate appetite-regulating hormones and may increase satiety perception.” 

“As an innovative prebiotic soluble dietary fiber, Fibersol has demonstrated key benefits throughout over 30 years of research. In addition to helping promote the growth of gut microbes that have been positively associated with health, research shows that Fibersol, at 3.75 g per serving, may help nourish the intestinal flora and support the intestinal tract environment.” 

She points to a study which demonstrated that Fibersol may increase the appetite-regulating hormone GLP-1 when consumed at 10 g with a meal in healthy individuals. “This is key to addressing a rapidly growing focus on products that can support satiety.” 

“However, certain fibers may be associated with gastrointestinal concerns,” Limena acknowledges. “Fibersol can help reach both fiber fortification targets and satiety goals with minimal gastrointestinal concerns or discomfort. This is due to Fibersol being well-tolerated at a total of 68 g per day.”

She explains that the product ferments more slowly in the large intestine, causing less gastric discomfort compared to dietary fibers that ferment more rapidly. Fibersol is classified as a low-FODMAP (fermentable sugars) ingredient by Monash University, Australia, making it suitable for individuals with some digestive sensitivities.

“Fibersol is a solution that supports the fortification of beverages, baked goods, snacks, frozen treats, yogurts, gummies and more. While some fiber ingredients may impart off-notes or gritty textures, Fibersol does not impact taste or texture. With its high solubility, low viscosity and clarity, in addition to its heat-, acid-, shear-, freeze- and thaw-stability, it supports fiber-fortified product innovations.”

 “With reduced sugar intake top-of-mind for consumers, we also use Fibersol to support reduced-sugar and low-calorie foods and beverages,” Limena continues. “Fibersol helps build back integrity through structural and binding qualities that can be lost when reducing sugar in formulations. This is on top of research showing that Fibersol may help minimize blood sugar spikes after a meal that are within the normal range in individuals. Managing blood glucose can be important to people seeking metabolic health support.”

Sensus’ Deirkauf points to the increasing consumer awareness of the gut-brain axis as an opportunity in the fiber fortification space.Opportunities in the sector
The experts agree there remain untapped opportunities for growth and challenges to address within the fiber fortification space. 

Sensus’ Deirkauf points to the broadening awareness of the gut-brain axis. “Consumers understand the link between gut and brain. Now is the time to emphasize the link between prebiotic fibers and the gut microbiome. It is important to educate consumers about the importance of prebiotic fibers and their positive influence on immunity and mental health.”

She highlights that chicory inulin and oligofructose offer fiber fortification opportunities as they are versatile ingredients with demonstrated health benefits. “Due to their soluble character and their neutral to sweet taste, they can easily be used in a vast range of applications to increase the fiber content and reduce the amount of added sugars and fats while enhancing sensory characteristics.” 

At the same time, Univar Solutions’ Siddhu cautions that some challenges are yet to be fully addressed. “Palatability tends to be one of the biggest concerns with insoluble fibers, although formulators work hard to find solutions to address taste and texture concerns. Soluble fiber can be added to many formulations with minimal interference with organoleptics.”

What’s next?
In the near future, Siddhu expects that by leveraging the latest scientific research and technology, companies can create innovative and effective products in the fiber fortification market, reaching a broader audience and supporting optimal health and nutrition.

“Offering a combination of fiber types can cater to individual consumer preferences, while utilizing multiple sources can ensure a diverse range of benefits. Incorporating certain fibers into products as a sweetening strategy may also be an attractive option for manufacturers looking to reduce added sugars while maintaining taste and texture.” 

Limena adds: “Consumers interested in fiber fortification are more than likely looking for additional wellness support within one product. Brands that can leverage prebiotic fibers, alongside other functional ingredients and solutions, in delicious, multi-functional products will find success with today’s discerning, wellness-minded shoppers.”

“We anticipate consumers will increasingly expect even the most traditionally indulgent food and beverage formats to provide functional support. Product launches like fruity sparkling drinks with prebiotic inclusion or fiber-fortified chocolate snack clusters are already hitting store shelves,” she concludes. 

By Milana Nikolova