Production of chicory root fibers with extended shelf life in Pemuco, Chile

BENEO, a leading provider of functional ingredients, announces that it has extended a production line at its plant in Pemuco (Chile) that enables processing capabilities for the production of its liquid chicory root fiber Orafti Oligofructose LL with a significantly expanded shelf life of one year. This offers key supply chain benefits for customers in the Americas, particularly in light of the long transport distances in the region and supply chain disruptions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are excited about this further commitment to our Pemuco facility,” said Guillermo Fernandez, head of Manufacturing at BENEO in Chile. “The new processing capabilities of Orafti Oligofructose LL will nearly triple the product's shelf life. Improving flexibility along the entire supply chain of food and drink manufacturers is a significant advantage for our regional customers. We can now more easily deliver the health benefits of prebiotic chicory root fiber to wider markets in the Americas region.”

The extended production line in the Pemuco plant will enable BENEO to explore overseas markets and new development opportunities further while increasing supply chain and operations flexibility. BENEO’s prebiotic Orafti Oligofructose LL is a highly soluble dietary fiber that allows easy processing. The ingredient offers binding and humectant properties for applications like cereal bars as well as sugar reduction and fiber enrichment opportunities in products like bakery, cereals, or dairy (alternatives) while maintaining texture and a natural mild sweet taste.

The use of chicory root fibers in food and drink products offers a range of nutritional and health benefits related to sugar reduction and fiber enrichment and their prebiotic properties. As the only proven plant-based prebiotics, inulin and oligofructose support healthy gut microbiota and selectively promote the growth of beneficial microorganisms, such as bifidobacteria, in the gut. This helps to support digestive health, the immune system, reduced blood glucose responses, weight management, and more. A range of possible claims exists in the US, Mexico, and other countries, subject to national legislation.

Finding natural ways to reduce sugar content while offering additional benefits to the consumer is of high interest for food and drink manufacturers in North and Latin America, given that almost three in four consumers in the Americas say they monitor their sugar intake. In addition, 61% of consumers in the Americas reported in 2022 that they were (incredibly) interested in prebiotics – an impressive increase from 43% in 2018. With this high consumer interest in prebiotics, it is key for the food industry to avoid misleading consumers with ingredients that lack the necessary scientific basis. While inulin and oligofructose are internationally accepted proven prebiotics and comply with the ISAPP definition, synthetic fibers like polydextrose and resistant maltodextrins are not.

BENEO derives its natural, non-GMO, and clean-label Orafti Inulin and Oligofructose from chicory root via a gentle hot water extraction method in its state-of-the-art Pemuco (Chile) and Oreye (Belgium) production plants.