FiE show preview: Fibre: are you getting enough?

One FiE exhibitor hoping for a slice of the action is J Rettenmaier & Söhne, which will be showcasing a range of insoluble fibres derived from wheat, oat, apple and potatoes as well as powdered cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, colloidal systems and a new pea fibre.

But competition is also hotting up in soluble fibres, which are resistant to digestion in the small intestine, but completely or partially fermented in the large intestine. Here they produce beneficial short chain fatty acids, which are believed to help stabilise blood glucose, reduce 'bad' cholesterol, stimulate the production of beneficial bacteria, help the immune system, boost satiety and even reduce the risk of certain cancers.

Heading the pack is Tate & Lyle with its Promitor soluble prebiotic fibres from corn. These offer significant processing benefits and enable customers to boost fibre levels without impacting taste or texture. Suitable for cereal coatings, snacks, soups, sauces, dressings, jams, fillings, confectionery and dairy products, the range is also low-GI (glycaemic index), and has excellent process and acid stability. It also dissolves clear, opening up new opportunities in beverage applications.

Another supplier keen to makes waves in the fibre stakes is Dow Chemical Europe, with Fortefiber. Made from purified wood pulp modified to become water soluble, Fortefiber has been proven to reduce glycaemic response.

Taiyo Europe, meanwhile, will be highlighting Sunfiber, a tasteless, odourless and water soluble dietary fibre designed to deliver high fibre content and excellent stability with respect to pH, heat and freeze/thaw conditions.

Also hoping to stand out from the crowd is Roquette with Nutriose, a dietary fibre with a high digestive tolerance. More gradually broken down in the large intestine than some other dietary fibres, it's also more heat stable and resistant to acidity, says the company.

Equally keen to corner this market is Syral Partners with Actilight, a soluble dietary fibre with prebiotic properties that can be used in yoghurts, biscuits, cereal bars, ice creams, fruit preparations and food supplements.

A clutch of exhibitors from Sensus and Orafti to Cosucra and S Black, will be promoting inulin and fructo- oligosaccharide soluble dietary fibres with added health benefits, while Danisco is showcasing Fibrex, a concentrated dietary fibre from sugar beet with an optimal ratio of soluble and insoluble fibres.

Last but not least is Swiss ingredients giant Lonza, which is hoping to impress the punters at FiE with FiberAid (a soluble prebiotic fibre extracted from larch trees using a patented process), which is also claimed to offer excellent digestive tolerance and superb functionality.

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