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How to enrich in fibre and be successful

  • Interest in fibre-enriched products is growing and the industry faces the challenge of launching functional and palatable fortified products.
  • At Alifarma we have FIBERSOL®2, a highly soluble, process-resistant, Halal and Kosher certified dietary fibre with a unique structure that minimises the sensation of bloating after ingestion.

Consumer interest in fibre-enriched products has grown significantly in recent years. Cereals and bakery are key categories for new products with this claim, although it extends to dairy and confectionery ranges. Adapting to consumer habits and demand requires innovation and the creation of functional and palatable fibre-fortified products. Not all fibres work in the same way to achieve this, and in Alifarma we work with the best solution to achieve the objective. FIBERSOL®2 is a highly digestible soluble dietary fibre that does not alter the organoleptic properties of the product and is really easy to formulate with. Do you want to know more? Read on! 

Dietary fibre is the component of plant-based foods that cannot be absorbed by the body, as is the case with other essential nutrients such as proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Adequate consumption of dietary fibre is beneficial for digestion, improves the absorption of fats and cholesterol, helps maintain stable glucose levels, provides satiety and helps control weight, and helps prevent respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and other pathologies. Fibre intake has an important impact on health and the World Health Organisation advises adults to consume at least 400 grams of vegetables and fruit per day, supplemented with 25 grams of natural dietary fibre.

Habits, health and fibre

62% of consumers are looking for fibre in the foods they eat and, beyond including fruit, vegetables, pulses and nuts in their diet, they are also interested in a high fibre intake in other products they consume on a regular basis. In fact, in recent years, the search for this ingredient has grown to 6%.

According to the OutsideVoiceSM Fiber Consumer Study of 2019, nearly 80% of consumers believe fibre is important in their diet and around two-thirds say they are adding or increasing fibre in their regular diet. In the same vein, data from Hartmann Fiber Occasions (2019) suggest that the 73% of the generation boomer adds or increases its consumption, while among Generation Z (52%), the Millennials (56%) and Generation X (62%) is lower. Added to this is the impact of Covid-19, which accelerated the demand for healthier products. On the other hand, the health-promoting supplement business is experiencing a significant increase in sales and uses a large amount of dietary fibre in its formulations.

The National Survey of Dietary Intake ENIDE201 reveals that in Spain the majority do not reach the recommended level of intake in their diet. The average fibre intake is between 17 and 21.7 grams per person per day. Therefore, between 93.2 and 98.5% of the population is below the 25 grams per day recommended by the WHO. In view of these data, fibre-enriched products are gaining weight as an option to be included in the diet.

Not all fibres are the same

Solubility, viscosity, taste, colour, origin and digestibility are some of the parameters that determine the quality or functionality of a fibre. It is therefore important to distinguish between the different types of fibres if the aim is to fortify a product with this nutrient.

At Alifarma we work with FIBERSOL®2, a highly digestible soluble dietary fibre that is really easy to formulate with. In addition, unlike other commonly used fibres, its unique structure minimises the feeling of bloating after ingestion.

  • Made from non-GM maize.
  • Halal and Kosher certified.
  • Soluble in 90%, does not crystallise.
  • No taste or smell.
  • Powdered product that facilitates handling in dry mixtures.
  • Its low viscosity allows it to be dosed in high quantities without altering the organoleptic properties of the final product.
  • It is stable under extreme processing conditions (acidic environment, high temperatures, shear).
  • It has excellent dispersibility allowing easy incorporation into solid and liquid mixtures.
  • Excellent bar binder with minimum addition of sugars.
  • It can compensate for some of the sugar, providing fewer calories and a low glycaemic response.
  • It rounds out the flavour profile and reduces the astringent or metallic notes of some sweeteners.

The distinguishing factor of FIBERSOL®2 as a soluble fibre is that it works, and this is borne out by the various scientific studies carried out over more than 30 years of continuous research.

Fortified products

It is of vital importance for the food industry to adapt to the consumption habits of the population and make fibre-enriched products more accessible to them. Cereals and bakery are key categories for new products with a high fibre content. claim almost intrinsic high fibre content and the data on the Innova Market Insights suggest that these two segments account for 40% of all launches within this range. However, interest in products with enhanced nutritional profiles extends to all other food and beverage options, including dairy, snacks and of course nutraceutical supplements.

The aim is to launch fibre-fortified products that are functional as well as palatable, and not all fibres work the same. From Alifarma we have found that FIBERSOL®2 combines perfectly with many different matrices. It is a dietary fibre with a tolerance of up to 68 grams per day, which makes it the perfect ingredient to enrich many different food matrices with fibre.

  • Low VISCOSITY
  • High TOLERANCE
  • High DISPERSABILITY
  • STABILITY at acidic pHs, high temperatures and shearing
  • High FUNCTIONALITY due to its sturdy structure
  • Help for an ORGANOLEPTIC BALANCING of formulations
  • Ingredient of proven QUALITY

If you are developing or improving a fibre-enriched product, FIBERSOL®2 is the perfect solution. If you want to know more about the product, contact us and the specialised team of Alifarma will be able to advise you and accompany you throughout the process.

References attached images:
IMAGE 1 FIBRE: UNSPLASH https://unsplash.com/es/fotos/B-OPWhnlzE8

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