Chicago, Illinois – July 10, 2023 – During this year’s IFT Food Expo in Chicago from July 17-19, BENEO will launch barley beta-glucans that offer unique health benefits including positive impacts on heart health and blood sugar management. BENEO’s new product Orafti® β-Fit, a natural and clean label wholegrain barley flour with 20% beta-glucans, is a significant extension of the company’s functional fiber product range. It is locally produced in the U.S. and offered by BENEO worldwide. Orafti® β-Fit is on-trend with consumer focus on sustainability with plant-based and wholegrain ingredients being preferences when making their food choices. As a more affordable solution in the beta-glucans category it offers additional value for both, manufacturers and consumers alike. BENEO will be highlighting Orafti® β-Fit in Booth S2210 where visitors can sample heart-healthy and tasty waffles served with various toppings.
Consumers are increasingly aware of how diet impacts both short and long-term wellbeing thus there is a growing demand for healthier food and beverage options. Half of U.S. consumers are extremely or very concerned about heart health issues while 1 in 5 people are personally affected by issues like cholesterol or hypertension.i 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.
“BENEO is excited to be extending its functional fiber range with the launch of Orafti® β-Fit. This wholegrain and clean label barley flour strengthens BENEO’s expertise as a leading provider of functional fibers,” said Jon Peters, BENEO’s Sales Director, Americas. “Orafti® β-Fit is perfectly aligned with the company’s goal to connect nutrition and health. It delivers convincing benefits with FDA-approved health claims. Being also an economically attractive solution, it supports food manufacturers in developing tasty and appealing products with added value in times of tighter consumer budgets. As this is BENEO’s first ingredient that is fully produced in the U.S., IFT is the perfect platform to launch and present this product.”
Verified Health Benefits of Barley Beta-Glucans
Beta-glucans are viscous and soluble dietary fibers that make the food thicker and thereby delay its passage through the large and small intestines. Their health benefits are backed up by several human intervention studies, but only cereal beta-glucans have approved health claims in the US and in Europe. In fact, beta-glucans from barley contribute to blood sugar management and cardiovascular health. They lower the blood glucose responseii, and in both short and long-term the blood cholesterol levelsiii which are linked to reduced risk for coronary heart disease. These health effects of cereal beta-glucans have been shown in more than 120 scientific studies and have been recognized by official bodies such as FDA, Health Canada, EFSA, and other national authorities with the approval of corresponding health claims.iv
BENEO’s Orafti® β-Fit also allows for fiber enrichment, thus helping to bridge the fiber gap. It can be used in a wide range of applications including baked goods (such as cakes, muffins, bread, and biscuits), pasta, and cereals, as well as meal replacements. It can also positively impact texture by increasing viscosity, e.g., in dairy (alternatives).
In keeping with BENEO’s commitment to sustainable business practices, Orafti® β-Fit is produced with the use of the entire kernel. There is no waste in production and a 100% valorization of raw material, with no water resources needed.
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i HealthFocus International 2022
iiAbuMweis S, Thandapilly SJ, Storsley J, Ames N (2016). Effect of barley β-glucan on postprandial glycaemic response in the healthy human population: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Functional Foods, Vol. 27, 329-342. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2016.08.057
iii AbuMweis SS, Jew S, Ames NP (2010). β-glucan from barley and its lipid-lowering capacity: a meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 64(12), 1472-1480. https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2010.178
iv US: 21 CFR §101.81 ; CAN: Summary of Health Canada’s Assessment of a Health Claim about Barley Products and Blood Cholesterol Lowering, July 2012; EU: Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 of 16 May 2012; Commission Regulation (EU) No 1048/2012 of 8 November 2012; [EFSA Journal 2009; 7(9):1254; EFSA Journal 2011;9(6):2207; EFSA Journal 2011;9(12):2470)].
