Several Skidmore suppliers recently rejoiced, as Inulin and seven other fibers will continue to be listed as[DS1] fiber on the Nutrition Facts and the Supplements Facts Labels. This is thanks to a ruling from the FDA announced last month.
In 2016, as part of its Nutrition Facts label final rule, the FDA authorized a list of seven non-digestible carbohydrates that the agency said were included in the list of dietary fibers. Those seven were: beta-glucan soluble fiber, psyllium husk, cellulose, guar gum, pectin, locust bean gum, and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose.
Since then, suppliers of the non-digestable carbohydrates not on the revised list, have been submitting citizens’ petitions to urge the FDA to continue to include their fibers. Each petition demonstrating that their ingredients meet FDA’s requirement for “physiological effects that are beneficial to human health.”
In June, Commissioner Gottlieb added these eight new fibers:
- Mixed plant cell wall fibers (a broad category that includes fibers like sugar cane fiber and apple fiber, among many others)
- Arabinoxylan
- Alginate
- Inulin and inulin-type fructans
- High-amylose starch (resistant starch 2)
- Galactooligosaccharide
- Polydextrose
- Resistant maltodextrin/dextrin
Gottleib explained that the new approvals “are based on a careful review of the scientific evidence suggesting that each of these additional fibers has a physiological effect.” He also indicated that petitions for other fibers are still in the review process.
Review the complete FDA ruling.
Contact your Skidmore Representative to learn more about our complete line of fibers, and to identify the ideal ingredient for your formulation.