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Canada gives Cargill's Oliggo-fiber green light

By staff reporter, 18-Apr-2007

Related topics: Regulation, Fibers and carbohydrates

Cargill's proprietary Oliggo-fiber inulin has been approved for use as a dietary fiber in Canada, adding to the number of companies allowed to list inulin in this category on labels.

In 2006, Health Canada approved Orafti's Beneo inulin as a dietary fiber, allowing manufacturers to advertise higher fiber content on food labels and opening the way for brands such as Cargill's to also seek the go-ahead.

Formulators in Canada cannot list fiber sources such as inulin, resistant starches or fructooligosaccharides on nutrition labels as readily as in the United States.

"This Canadian ruling on Cargill's Oliggo-fiber inulin enables consumer packaged goods companies to incorporate increased amounts of fibre into products without affecting taste and texture," said Steve Snyder, vice president of Cargill Health & Food Technologies.

According to Cargill, it received a "no objection letter" from Health Canada to the effect that Oliggo-fiber inulin from chicory roots is not a "novel fibre" in Health Canada Guideline No. 9, 1988, thereby allowing manufacturers using Oliggo-Fiber to incorporate terms such as 'high source of fibre' on food labels.

"This is great news for Canadian food manufacturers looking to meet consumer demand for naturally-sourced fibre by incorporating Oliggo-Fiber inulin into their food products," said Snyder.