Prebiotics for Added Value

IN TODAY'S society, health conscious consumers are always on the lookout for products that make them feel better and, because of hectic lifestyle, convenient products are becoming increasingly popular. Consumers are increasingly aware of specific health claims within the 'well-being' category and as such, shifting preferences can be seen in the number of new products launched bearing specific claims. Dairy drinks that promote health continue to grow in popularity across the globe. New product launches in the dairy drinks category that promote a health benefit have been increasing in popularity and now comprise over 74% of all dairy drinks products launched globally, according to statistics on dairy drink market from Innova Database (www.innova-food.com; 2009-2010). Out of the 344 dairy drinks launched the last two years containing inulin and oligofructose, the highest proportion of launches were to do with gut health at 59%. This shows a considerable increase in understanding by consumers of the benefits of digestive health, as only 44% of the launches referred to digestive health five years previously.

Maintaining a healthy digestive system is important for the physical and mental well-being and it allows the body to absorb essential nutrients and flush out unwanted toxins. There are several ways in which we can improve the health of the digestive system. Consuming food and drinks with prebiotic ingredients is one of them.

Prebiotic food ingredients such as inulin and oligofructose have been proven to improve the balance of the body's intestinal flora by stimulating beneficial bifidobacteria, supporting a healthy digestive system that contributes to an overall feeling of well-being. They are recognised throughout the world for their multiple health benefits, particularly those associated with digestive health. Inulin and oligofructose are naturally derived from the chicory root and can be found in many hundreds of plant species including onion, leek, wheat, artichoke and garlic. Many studies show that consuming even moderate quantities of inulin and oligofructose can be beneficial to health.

Inulin and oligofructose, such as those produced by Orafti, are not digested in the stomach or small intestine and so reach the large intestine almost intact. Unlike most other dietary fibres, however, they are selectively fermented by the intestinal flora. This means that they not only promote optimal intestinal function, but that they also act as prebiotics. This means the ‘good bacteria', known as bifidobacteria, will outnumber the ‘bad bacteria' and help improve digestion and prevent the growth of harmful organisms.

A wide range of applications

For both food and drink manufacturers wanting to include functional ingredients like Orafti inulin and Orafti oligofructose in their products to make scientifically proven health claims, there is still a big opportunity.

On top of their effect on the digestive system, the ingredients inulin and oligofructose offer a unique combination of nutritional and technological advantages. Without any major changes in the production process, they can be easily integrated into products to reduce the amount of fat and sugar and improve the texture and mouthfeel, without altering the taste. Successful applications include milk powder, dairy products, fresh fruit juices, baked goods and noodles, to name but a few.

For example, drink manufacturers can decide to include active food ingredients such as Orafti inulin and Orafti oligofructose because this allows them to make health claims on-pack, adding value to their product and enabling them to gain a price premium. These are just a few of the reasons why products like functional drinks are on the increase such as smoothies, juices and prebiotic drinks. These products provide consumers with a "healthy shot" of goodness without the consumer needing to chZoom Kobe 1 Protro