One ingredient can act as a bulking agent and high-intensity sweetener in a product, and contribute to healthy eating at the same time. The powdered ingredient has been used in France for more than eight years and attained self-affirmed GRAS status in the U.S. in 2001.
Roxlor International's, Manasquan, N.J., BeFloray begins with inulin from chicory roots that is enzymatically hydrolyzed to form oligofructose. The result is a short chain oligofructose of 2-8 DP, which is more easily soluble in aqueous systems than inulin. This is combined with a specially grown mung bean extract. The extract is derived from mung beans that are physically enriched with a nutritive medium containing small amounts of acesulfame K. The plant physically absorbs the sweetener into its structure, which maintains the sweet taste while masking any aftertaste. The enriched plants undergo a cold temperature extraction process, and the resulting enriched mung bean extract is blended with the oligofructose.