GOS holds dietary fiber potential: FrieslandCampina eyes new applications

13 Aug 2018 --- FrieslandCampina is targeting the dietary fiber opportunity for its Galacto-Oligosaccharides (GOS). The move comes in response to the recent FDA green light on specific dietary fibers which presents new market opportunities and application areas. “There is a lot of interest in clean, green and label-friendly ingredients and fiber is one that they are looking for, but in good tasting applications. This really means a lot more flexibility for formulators to offer something that has both prebiotic and fiber benefits,” Sarah Staley of FrieslandCampina tells NutritionInsight on the topic of GOS as a trending prebiotic fiber.

GOS has largely been used in infant formulas as prebiotics have become a focal point in this market. GOS, along with HMOs, contain oligosaccharides, which are a vital component of mothers milk and therefore, replicating them in formula allows the infants to benefit from a milk more closely resembling the “gold standard” of human breast milk.

FrieslandCampina highlighted its expansion of GOS beyond infant nutrition at the recent IFT Food Expo in Chicago. The company presented a prebiotic peach and apple white tea concept. “Beverages are a classic example of products which are difficult to add fiber into. Fibers can be insoluble or they have grittiness. However, GOS is available in a syrup and powder format. In syrup, it can be added to just about any beverage and it’s very stable,” Staley explains. Further applications could include nutrition bars and supplements.

The recent FDA approval for the marketing of several dietary fibers certainly offers a boost to FrieslandCampina as a supplier, as well as to formulators who are trying to push FDA approved marketing claims on their products, Staley says, with GOS offering 5g of fiber per serving, “you are really able to put something strong on the label.”

Fiber regulatory green light open up formulation opportunities
The June announcement also offered a boost to suppliers such as Beneo, Sensus and Tate & Lyle. NutritionInsight spoke to these suppliers at IFT Expo 2018, noting opportunities such as sugar reduction and weight management.

Beneo featured its inulin and oligofructose prebiotic fibers from chicory root, which were among the ingredients added to the established list of FDA-approved dietary fibers. These prebiotic fibers can be used in a variety of food products and contribute to texture and taste of sugar-reduced products. 

Innova Market Insights spoke with Jon Peters, President at Beneo, about what the guidance means for the company. “It’s welcome news, one that we have been expecting,” Peters says. “The biggest need we have in the market these days are a number of digestive health issues related to fiber. Of course, a continuing trend is reduction in sugar. The ruling makes it clear that inulin can be used as a replacement for sugar as we have been promoting it for many years. You get the double benefit of the replacement of sugars with dietary fibers, bringing those health benefits to consumers.”

Sensus, the manufacturer of Frutafit and Frutalose chicory root fibers, highlighted how the FDA recognition consolidates the fiber status of chicory root fiber in the US and supports further opportunities for healthy food applications in the US. New marketing opportunities have opened up as a result of the decision.

Carl Volz, President Sensus America, states: “Inulin/oligofructose has been clearly shown to support physiological health benefits as assessed by the FDA’s strict criteria”. He adds: “The FDA’s inclusion of chicory root fiber as a dietary fiber in its new food labeling regulations allows our customers to continue marketing their products as sources of dietary fiber and to continue to use chicory root fiber as a tool to reduce calories and added sugar.”

Tate & Lyle also showcased its portfolio of fibers. “We’re all glad to finally have the US FDA ruling come out that the Tate & Lyle portfolio of fiber products are dietary fibers according to the definition,” de Souza said at the show. “We were confident that our fibers would meet the definition based on the deep scientific knowledge we have about our fiber products, as well as the clinical and nutritional studies that we had done. But having the ruling come out helps in terms of opening up the bandwidth for our products regarding use by our customers.”

The FDA ruling is crucial for fiber claim on the upcoming Nutrition Facts label in the US. The new Nutrition Facts label will incorporate the latest evidence-based information on nutrients, such as added sugars, to provide consumers with more information regarding their food choices. The implementation of this new label has proven tricky, and the compliance deadline has been an issue of debate over the past months. 

Speaking to NutritionInsight at the time of the FDA announcement, Vanessa Curto, Health Communications Specialist at the FDA highlighted the importance of fiber for health-orientated consumers, “Fiber-containing fruits, vegetables and grain products, particularly soluble fiber, may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and can help lower cholesterol levels. Certain dietary fibers can also increase calcium absorption in the intestinal tract, improve laxation, or reduce calorie intake. After manufacturers update their labels, consumers will be able to trust that if a food label states that a product contains dietary fiber, the source of that fiber is scientifically shown to have a beneficial health effect.”

By Laxmi Haigh