FDBusiness.com

Functional ingredients manufacturer, BENEO, has announced that the EU Commission has authorised a 13.5 health claim with proprietary use for its chicory root fibre inulin promoting digestive health[1]. The official wording for the claim is “chicory inulin contributes to normal bowel function by increasing stool frequency”.  From 1^st January 2016, this proprietary claim is available for use by BENEO’s customers. By incorporating the company’s inulin into any food and beverage applications in combination with the health claim, manufacturers can help consumers to understand and benefit from the positive effect chicory inulin has on bowel function.

In addition to the authorised 13.5 proprietary health claim, general health-related well-being claims under article 10.3 are also possible. Amongst others, these include “chicory inulin promotes digestive health” or “chicory root fibre supports a healthy and balanced digestive system”. Manufacturers that want to use the claim should consider that the beneficial effect is achieved with a daily intake of 12 gram chicory inulin and the consumer should be informed accordingly. The amount of 12 gram can be split up into several servings per day.

The science behind this health claim has been positively evaluated by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and included six human intervention studies that have consistently proven that consumption of Orafti^® Inulin increases stool frequency and thus supports digestive health. Significant results were demonstrated with a proprietary study of BENEO for a total intake of 12 gram per day. While the recommended daily intake of dietary fibre is 25 gram per day and actual intake is significantly lower, the authorisation shows that adding inulin to a formulation helps to improve stool frequency and at the same time to achieve the dietary goal of adequate fibre intake by the general population in an easy way.

The authorisation confirms that BENEO’s prebiotic fibre inulin contributes to normal bowel function by increasing stool frequency without triggering diarrhoea. This is possible because inulin resists digestion in the small intestine and is fully fermented in the large intestine. For many people, enhanced bowel function resulting from a more optimal fibre intake means a noticeable improvement of gastrointestinal health and general well-being: Nearly 3 out of 4 European consumers eat products supporting digestive health because they feel it is good for their overall health[2].

Anke Sentko, VP Regulatory Affairs and Nutrition Communication, comments: “Improving regularity in a natural way is a growing health target of consumers. With the recent proprietary health claim for BENEO’s chicory inulin improving bowel function, our customers are well set to make the most of the ever growing consumer trend of digestive health. At the same time the approval shows once again that BENEO’s commitment to strong scientific evidence of its ingredients is the right approach to contribute to the long-term benefit of consumers.”

[1] http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32015R2314&qid=1450113112441&from=EN

[2] BENEO’s digestive health research, 2015