Food Marketing & Technology - India June 2019 | Page 20

Ingredient
HEALTHIER SNACKS THROUGH
FIBER ENRICHMENT
Prebiotic dietary fibers offer added value thanks to their positive effects on health and well-being
F
or a long time, dietary fibers
were regarded as uneffective
and possibly even damaging
due to their indigestible properties –
but that was until the first indications
of their beneficial effects on the body
became apparent, and everything that
had previously been assumed turned
out to be wrong. Nowadays, experts
recommend regularly including foods
rich in fiber in the diet. Prebiotic
ingredients from the chicory root,
such as Orafti® Inulin and Orafti®
Oligofructose from BENEO, make the
addition of fiber to a wide range of
food and beverages both quick and
easy. They help close the gap between
actual consumption levels and the
higher intake levels recommended
for optimum health. Their positive
effect on the digestive system has been
scientifically proven and, in addition,
they are easily processed by the body.
Thanks to an EU health claim, these
benefits can be communicated clearly
and easily.
Food Marketing & Technology
20
June 2019
Global fiber deficiency
According
to
World
Health
Organization
(WHO)
recommendations,
adults
should
consume an average of 30g of dietary
fiber per day. However, it is well
known that a large proportion of the
population is unable to hit that target.
In fact, according to Euromonitor
International’s 2017 Passport Nutrition
data only three countries consume
more than this recommended amount.
Dietary fibers promote intestinal
health by increasing stool volume,
for example, and support regular
bowel movements. They also supply
the colon mucosa with nutrients to