October 3, 2008

 

 

Inulin and oligofructose supplier, Beneo-Orafti, has engaged in co-branding in meat products for the first time with its prebiotic ingredients.

 

Beneo-Orafti's prebiotic ingredients are available in existing meat products to enhance their health claims. Two new products, a canned fish in Germany and a turkey steak in Spain features Beneo-Orafti's ingredient branding for the first time.

 

The move is a change for Beneo-Orafti, operating outside of its categories of bakery and dairy products.

 

Since Europe's health claim laws are not yet unified, the Spanish processed turkey fillet product makes a prebiotic health claim. A less liberal health claims system in Germany means the canned fish product references only its high-fibre content.

 

Beneo's ingredients have been added to about 80 products in the past year to bring the total to 330 worldwide.

 

It remains to be seen if the debate on nutrient profiling criteria within the European Union is resolved on such products bearing health claims.

 

Nutrient profiling is based on the idea that only foods that meet a certain standard with regards to its overall health profile should be able to bear health claims that may be related to one or another particular ingredient.

 

The Spanish product is manufactured by Sant Dalma and is part of a new range of turkey grill products called Pechugas de Pavo GRILL. It contains 3.2 percent Orafti oligofructose.

 

The canned fish is made by RügenFisch under its reduced fat Leichte Linie brand and consists of shark catfish fillets.

 

He said Beneo-Orafti research indicated consumers were prepared to pay more for a product with added health benefits.  This confirms that consumers see the label as a symbol of health, have a preference for such products and will pay a price premium for products with scientifically proven added health benefits.

 

Market analyst AC Nielsen puts the European digestive health market at about EUR 2.2billion (including probiotics).