At Vitafoods Europe (Hall 4, Booth C 39)  Taiyo will present new additions to its Sunfiber® portfolio, an all-natural, soluble dietary fiber that can now also be used as a sweetener. The Sweet-Sunfiber® compound contains an Isomalto-oligosaccharide whereas the Sunfiber®-Matcha Honey variant promotes natural sweetness with a green tea tang. Both combine the health-boosting properties and technological benefits of Taiyo’s dietary fiber ingredient with a mildly sweet taste profile.

Sweet-Sunfiber® provides end products with a sugar-like sweetness – combined with a dietary fiber boost. The Isomalto-oligosaccharide convinces with an excellent nutritional profile: fewer calories, a low glycemic index, and tooth-friendliness. Sunfiber® as a soluble fiber has various prebiotic properties, promoting the growth of short-chain fatty acids in the colon, which helps to prevent nutrition-related diseases. As the fermentation rate of Taiyo’s ingredient is very slow, it doesn’t produce painful gas, cramping or discomfort. This is particularly important for patients with irritable bowel syndrome, who often struggle to tolerate dietary fibers. However, Sunfiber® products are proven to be well tolerated.

The Sunfiber® range also benefits from optimized technological benefits. The ingredients are highly water soluble, stable at different pH levels and temperatures, and can therefore be used for a variety of applications as dairy and bakery products, meats and sausages, beverages, ice-creams and confectioneries.

“More and more consumers are looking for products with health benefits. Ultimately, however, the factor that defines the success of a product is taste. Particularly for reduced sugar products, getting the sweetness profile right can be challenging. It is all about achieving the ‘gold standard’ sugar taste with an improved nutritional profile,” says Dr Stefan Siebrecht, Managing Director of Taiyo GmbH. “Our new compound, comprising an Isomalto-oligosaccharide, matches both demands: Sweet-Sunfiber® guarantees a balanced sweetness with fewer calories while providing a high concentration of well-tolerated dietary fibers.”

The biocertified Sunfiber®-Matcha Honey offers an interesting mixture of sweetness and refreshingly bitter green tea flavor. It provides a simple way to combine dietary fiber enrichment with an extraordinary taste and health-boosting properties. In general, Matcha is known for its antioxidant effect, and honey for its antibacterial properties.

All Sunfiber® variants are clinically proven to lower the glycemic index, contributing to stabilized blood glucose levels. Furthermore, the prebiotic fiber promotes the health and function of the intestinal tract for general wellbeing. Sunfiber® also qualifies as an organic material, is non-GMO and a 100% gluten-free product. It is Kosher and Halal certified and perfectly suitable for vegetarians and vegans.