Beneo launches new ingredient that replaces sugar with fiber in response to consumption trends 

USA-  Functional ingredients specialist Beneo has launched Beneo-scL85, a short-chain fructooligosaccharide (scFOS) that promises to reduce the sugar used in snacks and baked products, by enriching them with dietary fiber. 

The scFOS are prebiotics and do not undergo digestion in the small intestines. Instead, they are fermented by the microflora in the colon into short-chain fatty acids. 

Therefore, they do not have an erratic effect on the consumers’ blood sugar levels. 

According to the company, the ingredient’s short-chain FOS is derived from beet sugar and offers a mildly sweet taste, good solubility, and natural credentials that contribute to improved taste and texture.

“Short-chain fructooligosaccharide from beet sugar is a valuable addition to Beneo’s portfolio because it increases flexibility and availability for our customers,” said Eric Neven, commercial managing director for Beneo’s functional fibers. 

According to Beneo, the new ingredient will increase the capabilities of sugar reduction techniques, combined with the increased production capacity of its chicory root fiber production plant in Chile. 

“Beneo’s short-chain fructooligosaccharide will further secure supply to meet the high demand for solutions to reduce sugar.”

This ingredient may be used for bulking in applications such as bakery, dairy, and cereals. The ingredient is produced in a dedicated facility in Germany and is available globally as a syrup.

Beneo is passionate about sugar reduction solutions and has other products such as Isomalt and Palatinose alternative sugar. 

According to Kyle Krause, regional product manager for Beneo, these sugar-reduced products have already found significant application opportunities within the confectionery space.

“I think one of the Holy Grails is how can you replace sugar with something that acts just like it and costs nearly the same, so it’s finding the right formulation that consumers are willing to pay for, as well be being innovative products in terms of textures and flavors,” he added.

Beneo’s new product is tapping into a rather interestingly timely market when people are becoming increasingly wary of getting metabolic diseases from too much sugar consumption and too little of everything else. 

“It is evident that consumers have adopted a more proactive approach to their health and wellness in recent years, choosing products that have active ingredients, as well as health benefits claims,” said Kate Kehoe, marketing executive at FMCG Gurus, a firm providing market research for FMCGs. 

According to the research firm, more than 60% of consumers turn to biscuits and other baked products for snacks, and sugar reduction solutions in this sector are bound to help them reduce how much sugar they consume. 

For all the latest grains industry news from Africa, the Middle East and the World, subscribe to our weekly NEWSLETTERS, follow us on LinkedIn and subscribe to our YouTube channel