The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has approved a claim by food and drinks industry advisors Beneo that its prebiotic fibre inulin improves bowel function by increasing stool frequency.
EFSA’s panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) agreed that inulin, a fibre extracted from chicory, is “sufficiently characterised in relation to the the claimed effect”.
The panel acknowledged that six of the eight human intervention studies provided showed that consumption of inulin, in doses ranging from 12g to 40g per day, increases stool frequency and supports digestive health. Significant results were demonstrated with the lower extreme of this dosage range.
The decision presents the industry with opportunities for the ways in which inulin products can be marketed and the claims that manufacturers can publish.
Summarising, EFSA acknowledged that inulin intake improves bowel function, which Beneo says leads to a “noticeable improvement” to gastrointestinal health. It adds: “Thanks to this positive evaluation from EFSA, it will now be possible for Beneo’s customers to easily incorporate the company’s inulin into a wide range of applications to allow consumers to benefit from the positive effect it has on the bowel.”
Anke Sentko, Beneo’s vice president regulatory affairs and nutrition communication, said: “The positive evaluation by EFSA shows once again that Beneo is on the right track to further invest in research and focus on sound scientific substantiation of its products’ benefits. Digestive health, including regularity, is an important element of feeling good, especially due to the fact we often have a ‘lazy’ gut. Improved regularity in a natural way is a growing health target of consumers. The research shows that Beneo’s chicory fibres ‘function’ and contribute to digestive health, offering new diet related opportunities for the industry to respond to this consumer need.”
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