QHT short-chain inulin and galactooligosaccharide meet Chinese national standards

01 Nov 2017 --- Quantum Hi-Tech Biological Co., Ltd. (QHT) has announced that it is leading a “national standard sample era” of short-chain inulin and galactooligosaccharide (GOS). The company’s research into inulin and GOS national standard samples has achieved great success, the company says.

Up-and-coming company QHT, established in 2000, is a hi-tech enterprise specializing in prebiotic products research and development, production and sales. QHT controls independent research and development core technologies and patented technologies.

QHT has developed the Chinese national standard of Inulobiose (FF), Inulotriose (FF2), Inulotetraose (FF3), 1&6G-kestotetraose (GF3) and three components of GOS: 2-O-β-D-Galactopyranosyl-D-Glucopyranose, 3-O-β-D-Galactopyranosyl-D-Glucopyranose and 6-O-β-D-Galactopyranosyl-D-Glucopyranose. The standard samples were approved by the General Administration of Quality Supervision and Standardization Administration of China earlier in October.

In 2014, QHT successfully released six fructooligosaccharides (FOS): 1-Kestose (GF2), 6G-Kestose (6G-GF2), 6-Kestose (6-GF2), Nystose (GF3), 1F-Fructofuranosylnystose (GF4) and 1F-Fructofuranosyl-1F-Fructofuranosylnystose (GF5), six FOS monomer national standard samples. The standard samples acquired the People’s Republic of China National Certified Reference Materials Certificate that is issued by the Chinese National Academic Group and Standardization Administration.

At this time, QHT “brought the goal of constructing the prebiotics standard system a step closer,” the company notes. Developing the standard is the strongest agreement of a company’s technology and is the most convincing expression of an enterprise's core competitiveness, QHT adds.

As a company that “leads the globe in prebiotic technology,” QHT asserts that it always concentrates on developing prebiotic detection and analysis systems. In the future, the company has promised that it will continually step up its pace as it develops other prebiotic standard samples and improves their brand competitiveness through technical innovations.

NutritionInsight spoke to QHT’s Y.P. Tan at the IFT Food Expo about its ingredients, including GOS and its applications.

“The main use of GOS has always been in infant formula,” said Tan. “It’s a very premium product, but we’re seeing people in high-value, very premium health supplements using GOS simply because it is the prebiotic that has the most efficacy.”

“It costs a lot more, but I think we’re seeing consumers paying a lot more for the extra effect, and by efficacy I mean increasing the amount of probiotics in the human gut,” Tan added.

Tan gave an example of an application: “We have now probably four clients – this is very interesting – adding GOS into whey protein powder for athletes. It is unusual because for whey protein powder, they tend to use a different sort of fiber, but people are now using GOS to convince high-end athletes to use their whey protein powder.”

“The other area for GOS is probably toddler foods,” Tan added. “Mothers who buy infant formula containing GOS know exactly what it is. Then, going on to toddler foods like teething biscuits or fruit purees, if GOS is inside it and on the label, mothers are familiar with it.”