Cosucra Health Claim for Fibruline Chicory Root Fiber Range Now Eligible for Use on Packaging
19 Apr 2016 --- A new claim linking Fibruline’s soluble chicory inulin and oligofructose to a reduction of blood glucose rise after a meal is now possible on packaging in Europe.
A positive opinion was published by EFSA early 2014 regarding a health claim related to non-digestible carbohydrates and a reduction of post-prandial glycemic responses (article 13.5 claim). Now, after several months of discussion, the claim has been validated and can be used on packaging in the European region.
In the case of chicory inulin or oligofructose, such as Fibruline, Cosucra’s chicory root fiber range, the final wording is the following: “Consumption of foods/drinks containing inulin or oligofructose (or chicory root fiber) instead of sugars induces a lower blood glucose rise after their consumption compared to sugar-containing foods/drinks”. The condition of use is to replace minimum 30% sugars by non-digestible carbohydrates, in particular inulin or oligofructose.
A collaboration between the three leaders on the inulin & oligofructose market, namely Cosucra, Sensus, and Beneo, led to the submission of a dossier for an EU Art. 13.5 claim linking oligofructose and improved blood glucose response after intake (as reported by NutritionInsight on 15 April).
The dossier presented to EFSA was based on new proprietary studies showing that, when a proportion of the sugars in a product is replaced by chicory oligofructose, it leads to a lower blood glucose response after intake. Whereas those studies demonstrated that a reduced glycemic response was obtained when only 20% of sugars were replaced, the conditions of use proposed in the evaluation refer to a 30% sugar replacement (i.e. the minimum to get a ‘sugar replacement’ claim in Europe).
The dossier presented to EFSA was based on new proprietary studies showing that, when a proportion of the sugars in a product is replaced by chicory oligofructose, it leads to a lower blood glucose response after intake. Whereas those studies demonstrated that a reduced glycemic response was obtained when only 20% of sugars were replaced, the conditions of use proposed in the evaluation refer to a 30% sugar replacement (i.e. the minimum to get a ‘sugar replacement’ claim in Europe).
A second dossier focusing on chicory inulin, and also including additional newly developed scientific research, was ready for submission at the moment when EFSA’s opinion on chicory oligofructose was published. As EFSA broadened the scope to non-digestible carbohydrates when evaluating the oligofructose dossier, chicory inulin, such as Fibruline, is included and benefits de facto from this evaluation.
With the evolution of eating habits and way of life in general, diet related diseases such as obesity, overweight, impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes have much increased, and become the 21st century health challenges to address. The World Health Organization (WHO) now strongly recommends reducing sugar intake to less than 10% of total energy intake, and better still, to less than 5% for improved health.
As sugar consumption represents up to 17% of total energy intake of adults in some European countries, there is potential for improvement.
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