USA- Leading supplier of functional ingredients Beneo has announced plans to launch a barley beta-glucan flour that promotes heart health and blood sugar management during this year’s Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Food Expo in Chicago from July 17-19.
According to the company, its new product Orafti® β-Fit is a natural and clean label wholegrain barley flour with 20% beta-glucans, to be processed in the USA and distributed worldwide.
Beta-glucans are viscous and soluble dietary fibers that make the food thicker and delay its passage through the large and small intestines, thus promoting gut health.
According to Beneo, Orafti® β-Fit is applicable in a range of applications, including baked goods, pasta, cereals, and meal replacements.
According to Beneo, the product can also positively impact texture by increasing the viscosity of other foods in other sectors, such as dairy.
In keeping with BENEO’s commitment to sustainable business practices, Orafti® β-Fit is produced with the entire kernel, ensuring no waste in production and a 100% valorization of raw material, with no water resources needed.
Consumers are increasingly aware of how diet impacts both short and long-term well-being. Thus, there is a growing demand for healthier food and beverage options.
According to Beneo, half of U.S. consumers are extremely or very concerned about heart health issues with 1 in 5 people personally affected by issues like cholesterol or hypertension.
Functional ingredients such as barley beta-glucans, with proven health benefits and approved health claims, offer food manufacturers an easy way to create appealing products with convincing front-of-pack communication and a convenient way for consumers to choose nutritional products that positively impact heart health.
Eric Neven, commercial managing director of functional fibers at Beneo, commented that Beneo’s new wholegrain and clean-label barley flour, Oraft β-Fit, further demonstrates the company’s expertise and position as a leading provider of functional fibers.
“With its convincing health benefits and approved health claims while also being an economically attractive solution, Orafti β-Fit supports our company’s ambition of connecting nutrition and health. We help food manufacturers develop great tasting products that deliver added value in times of tighter consumer budgets,” he added.
Beneo has been investing consistently in its fiber and sugar reduction portfolio, creating products that allow bakers to use much less sugar in their applications.
For example, in May this year, Beneo launched Beneo-scL85, a short-chain fructooligosaccharide (scFOS) that reduces the sugar used in snacks and baked products by enriching them with dietary fiber.
According to the company, the ingredient’s short-chain FOS is derived from beet sugar and offers a mildly sweet taste, good solubility, and natural credentials that contribute to improved taste and texture.
For all the latest grains industry news from Africa, the Middle East and the World, subscribe to our weekly NEWSLETTERS, follow us on LinkedIn and subscribe to our YouTube channel
