Bifidogenic Inulin Claim Approved in Malaysia

Recently, Sensus also was involved in setting up the list of generic inulin-based claims within the framework of EU Regulation 1924/2006 for the use of nutrition and health claims on foods.

12/12/08 It is now possible to make a bifidogenic claim in Malaysia on foods containing 1.25g of inulin per serving. Based on the dossier set up by Sensus, the Dutch inulin producer, the Malaysian Ministry of Health has approved this adaptation.

The former claim for native inulin could only be made with a dosage of 2g per serving. A lower dosage of 1.25g per portion was sufficient for oligofructose containing products. Recent human studies have shown that also with lower dosages of inulin a bifidogenic effect can be obtained. These studies and other data were presented to the relevant authorities in Malaysia together with the request to adapt the bifidogenic claim for inulin. In October 2008 the approval became available. 

With this new claim the food industry has more opportunities to choose inulin for their applications and make a prebiotic claim. Inulin can be chosen for those applications in which mouthfeel is important, whereas oligofructose is the best choice in products in which optimal solubility is essential. It is now possible to make the same bifidogenic claim at the same usage level for inulin and oligofructose.

“This specific claim is only approved in Malaysia, but in the EU similar claims were approved in France and in the Netherlands. We have filed this dossier in Malaysia, because we felt that the claim for inulin that was allowed was not in accordance with the latest evidence from human studies. Also the fact that a clear procedure in Malaysia for approval of nutrient-function claims was available and that the approval may have a positive impact on the use of inulin in other countries in that region were arguments for filling the dossier in Malaysia”, Scientific and Regulatory Affairs Manager Diederick Meyer told FoodIngredientsFirst.com.

Sensus said that this shows again their commitment in helping the global food industry to use inulin and oligofructose in food products with a health claim. Recently, Sensus also was involved in setting up the list of generic inulin-based claims within the framework of EU Regulation 1924/2006 for the use of nutrition and health claims on foods. ”Based on the current approval in France and the Netherlands for a prebiotic inulin claim and the large number of human studies available for the prebiotic effect we feel fairly confident that such a claim will be on the list of approved generic health claims in January 2010. Other inulin-based claims were also submitted, but as the final list of claims that the EC has sent to EFSA for evaluation is not yet available we cannot say yet which other inulin-based claims can possibly on the final list,” Meyer explained.

Meyer predicted growth to continue for the inulin and oligofructose market in 2009. This growth will not be based on specific new applications, but on the increased use of these ingredients in existing markets (dairy, bakery, cereals/cereal bars, beverages etc.). “Approval of (prebiotic or other inulin-based) health claims will certainly help to maintain this growth. With the definition of dietary fibre in the EU now established it is also easier to make fibre claims on food products with inulin or oligofructose again making more growth possible,” he said.