In good news for manufacturers and suppliers alike, the new FDA ruling issued in June ends a period of limbo regarding the expanded list of ingredients the agency will recognize for dietary fiber claims on Nutrition Facts panels under 21 CFR 101.9(c)(6)(i). This new guidance accepts the results of a host of clinical research studies that show polydextrose exhibits proven physiological benefits for human health, in accordance with the values commonly associated with the class of ingredients known as dietary fiber.
The inclusion of polydextrose in the newly expanded list of isolated or synthetic non-digestible carbohydrates in the classification of dietary fiber provides formulators with an economical, highly functional ingredient that qualifies for label claims. Standing out from that class of fibers however, polydextrose offers unique benefits from both a functional and physiological standpoint, compared to other FDA-approved ingredients.