Prebiotic Ingredients Enter Meat and Fish Applications

A new fish product containing inulin and marketed with a fiber claim has just been launched in Germany, while the Spanish market has just seen the introduction of prebiotic containing turkey.

22/09/08 BENEO-Orafti has expanded the boundaries of functional food by supporting manufacturers to include its Orafti inulin and oligofructose into a wider range of applications such as fish and meat based products. A new fish product containing inulin and marketed with a fiber claim has just been launched in Germany, while the Spanish market has just seen the introduction of prebiotic containing turkey.

BENEO-Orafti, which is part of the BENEO-Group (a division of the Südzucker Group) specializes in inulin and oligofructose products which have been scientifically proven to improve the balance of the body’s intestinal flora by stimulating beneficial bifidobacteria, helping the body to absorb more essential nutrients, such as calcium, from the diet.

With mounting consumer research proving that BENEO-Orafti’s BENEO symbol creates understanding and preference for well-being products, more and more manufacturers are working with the logo. The total number of BENEO products is now 330 worldwide – 80 more than this time last year.

“We are increasingly seeing manufacturers incorporating Orafti inulin and oligofructose into a varied range of well-being products. Active food ingredients such as Orafti inulin and oligofructose can easily be used in many applications and consumer interest in these products has reinforced the fact that there is a market for them. If the products follow the BENEO guidelines in terms of dosage and appropriate claims, they can carry the BENEO label”, Tim Van der Schraelen, marketing & communication manager at BENEO-Orafti commented.

Van der Schraelen told FoodIngredientsFirst.com that following a slow start, their labelling programme is starting to gather pace with 100 new products using the logo last year and another 100 estimated for 2008. “We are at the tipping point now. At the beginning the industry was a little sceptical about it, but this is changing as a certain awareness for the label begins to develop. Particularly in markets like Spain the logo holds some power and around 75 products are now using this label”, he said. Collaborators include large companies such as Pepsi and Parmalat.

BENEO-Orafti found that in Spain, over half of those questioned were prepared to pay more for a product with added health benefits and that bear the BENEO label, than they would for a standard product with no logo. “This confirms what we already knew: consumers see the label as a symbol for health, have a preference for such products and will also pay a price premium for products with scientifically proven added health benefits,” Van der Schraelen said.

The first ever prebiotic fish launch comes from RügenFisch in the form of Leichte Linie shark catfish filets. Launched as fat reduced wellness range, the shark catfish filets are available in three dressing varieties: salsa-dressing, gherkin pickled with mustard seeds and ChanThai.  RügenFisch is continually looking for ways to maximise the health benefits of its product lines. The addition of Orafti inulin to the dressings and sauces accompanying the shark catfish filets has created a nutritionally balanced product that is proving very popular with customers.

Another BENEO Label development is from the Spanish company, Sant Dalmai S.A. in its new range of turkey grill products - Pechugas de Pavo GRILL (pictured). Consisting of 100% turkey meat, low in fat and without gluten (carrying the quality label “Certificado por FACE”/“Certified by FACE”), the new product range has been enriched with 3.2% Orafti oligofructose to help promote gut health.

by Robin Wyers

www.orafti.com