Prebiotic fibre inulin health claim given

The European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA’s) positive evaluation allows the approval by the Commission, Member States and the European Parliament within the health claim procedure.

The claim has also opened the way for new food and drink applications, Beneo said.

Positive evaluation ​

“The recent positive evaluation proves that Beneo’s prebiotic fibre inulin maintains normal bowel function by increasing stool frequency without triggering diarrhoea,”​ Anke Sentko, vice president regulatory affairs and nutrition communication at Beneo said.

EFSA’s decision was based on six human intervention studies, which proved inulin consumption increased stool frequency and supported digestive health.

Total inulin intakes of 12g per-day yielded the most significant results, according to the studies.

Active levels of inulin were significantly lower than the recommended daily fibre intake of 25g per-day. “The positive evaluation shows that adding inulin to a formulation improves stool frequency and also helps to achieve the dietary goal of adequate fibre intake by the general population,”​ Sentko added.

Digestive health ​

“Digestive health, including regularity, is an important element of feeling good, especially due to the fact that consumers across Europe usually have a ‘lazy’ gut,”​ she said.

Improved regularity in a natural way was also a growing consumer health target, Sentko claimed. Food firms would now be able to use the ingredient in their products and make the health claim, she added.