Major chicory root processor Sensus announced that their full range of chicory inulin and oligofructose products qualifies as natural according to the new ISO 19657:2017 standard. About a year after ISO set a new standard for food ingredients to be called ‘natural’, chicory root fiber is the first dietary fiber to achieve this verification.

The root of the chicory plant is the natural source of the inulin and oligofructose ingredients that Sensus produces. “We are extremely pleased that we can now really call our chicory inulin natural according to the very latest and strict ISO standard,” explains Sensus scientific and regular affairs leader, Dr. Elaine Vaughan. “There are many fibers available in the market and this qualification distinguishes chicory inulin from fibers that you cannot find in nature”.

‘Occurring in nature’ is exactly the focus of ISO when determining the ‘naturalness’ of an ingredient. In fact, inulin has been part of our daily diet historically and there are over 36,000 plants in the world that contain inulin fiber, like banana, wheat and garlic. The inulin is extracted with hot water from chicory roots, which contain a high level of inulin. The inulin fiber delivered to the customer is the same as you can find it within the chicory root.

To become verified as natural, an ingredient must occur in nature. For this reason, not many other dietary fibers will qualify for this verification, simply because they do not occur in nature. Although some producers will claim that their fibers are from ‘natural origin,’ you will not find these fibers in nature. Chicory root fiber is today the only dietary fiber that is verified as natural according to ISO.

After the recent FDA approval of dietary fiber status of chicory inulin and oligofructose in the new food labelling regulations, this standard will help our customers to make the right choices, using the right dietary fiber when they want to use only authentic and natural ingredients in their products. It is another step forward in going back to nature!