Sunfiber is Taiyo’s branded form of hydrolyzed guar gum that has data backing its benefit as a ‘regulating’ prebiotic fiber, meaning it can help customers both with constipation and staving off diarrhea. The ingredient has the added benefit of fitting into FDA’s thinking as outlined in a recent document on the subject of purified and isolated and/or synthetic carbohydrates marketed as dietary fibers. Much R&D development in the food and dietary supplement world has gone into these fibers, which in many cases can have the upside of extending the benefits of dietary fiber to new food and supplement matrices, where the addition of bran from various grains would be inappropriate, either from the standpoint of taste or from a functional point of view. The addition of fiber to beverages is one example. Sunfiber fits this definition of fiber without having to do additional regulatory work. The ingredient is also approved in Canada for a claim for reducing post prandial blood glucose levels.
In the new Suncran ingredient, which is offered in conventional and organic versions, the Sunfiber is paired with Fruit d’Or’s cranberry juice powder, with the resulting ingredient being aimed at digestive health, leveraging the prebiotic benefits of Sunfiber with the benefits of cranberry juice, without the sugar. Medical foods, RTD beverages, bars and stick packs are some other possible applications.