Roquette Views EFSA Health Claims Batch as Soluble Fiber Opportunity

The fourth batch of EFSA evaluations regarding health claims under Article 13.1, called “general function” health claims, has just been published. Of the only 20% of submissions given positive opinions, maltitol, xylitol, sorbitol, and mannitol polyols were all included.

4/29/2011 --- EFSA’s favourable opinion in respect of certain sugar substitutes and their associated maintenance of tooth mineralisation is further endorsement of Roquette’s whole range of polyols. Roquette – the world leader in this field – believes this opinion is also a new opportunity for its NUTRIOSE soluble fibre.

The fourth batch of EFSA evaluations regarding health claims under Article 13.1, called “general function” health claims, has just been published. Of the only 20% of submissions given positive opinions, maltitol, xylitol, sorbitol, and mannitol polyols were all included. This is clearly good news for all the producers of these sweeteners but in particular for the Roquette group, the world’s no.1 in polyols.

According to Didier VIDEAU (Roquette’s Market Development Director in the Nutrition Business Unit), polyols are “genuine tools for decay prevention” that “have been key to the development and success of sugar-free chewing-gums. Today, EFSA’s latest opinion reinforces one of our strategic areas of development: Nutrition & Health, as it does the scientific work we dedicate to it.”

Last November, Roquette was already delighted with EFSA’s favourable opinions regarding the dental health claim relating to no-added-sugars chewing-gums. Moreover, the fact that the dental health benefits are independent of the type of polyol used corroborates the results of recent Roquette studies.

Roquette also regards EFSA’s latest opinion as an opportunity for its NUTRIOSE soluble fibre. The latter is used, among others, to replace sugars, and possesses precisely the characteristics mentioned by EFSA.

Indeed, NUTRIOSE is recognized as “toothfriendly” by the University of Zurich , and moreover triggers a low glycaemic response compared to the glucose reference standard . In addition, NUTRIOSE is particularly well tolerated and is considered as a food ingredient. Like all soluble fibres, its caloric value is 2kcal/g.

Characteristics like these, in combination with EFSA’s favourable opinion regarding the maintenance of tooth mineralisation and the glycaemic response reduction, are a significant boost for Roquette and its NUTRIOSE soluble fibre.

Roquette is ready to do whatever is necessary to encourage the scientific assessment and identification of the benefits of its nutritional ingredients, the company says.