New Marketing Hopes for Inulin in Canada

03/08/06 Sensus America LLC, Monmouth Junction NJ has announced that effective June 6, 2006 its Frutafit inulin products have been approved as a dietary fibre in Canada.

Based on data supplied, Health Canada has “determined that Frutafit inulin from chicory roots does not fall within the definition of “novel fibre”as per Health Canada Guideline No. 9, 1988 (revised November 1994). Therefore we have no objection to the classification of Frutafit® inulin from chicory as dietary fibre for labeling purposes in Canada”.

This approval opens many opportunities for Canadian food manufacturers to make fibre related claims on packaging i.e. “source of fibre”, “high source of fibre” and “very high source of fibre” for 2, 4 or 6 gram fibre/serving respectively.

Frutafit inulin is a soluble, prebiotic fibre that in addition to its health and nutritional properties offers the following functional benefits - calorie reduction, sugar- and fat replacement, textural improvements, better processabilty and flavor masking in a wide variety of food applications from bakery to dairy, nutritional bars, cereals, ice-cream, beverages etc.

Last month fellow inulin supplier Orafti noted that Canada’s Health Products and Food Branch approved the classification of inulin as a dietary fibre in Canada, a decision that will allow ORAFTI to label its Beneo inulin range as a “dietary fibre”. Health Canada are currently reviewing a decision on the classification and labelling of oligofructose, pending the completion of their review of definition and policies on dietary fibre.