In an announcement made today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued decisions on citizen petitions regarding additional dietary fibers, among those chicory root fibers. The FDA has determined that inulin-type fructans derived from chicory root are dietary fiber for the new nutrition facts label.

This recognition consolidates the fiber status of chicory root fiber in the U.S. and supports further opportunities for healthy food applications.

In 2015, the FDA issued new Nutrition Facts labeling regulations for food and supplements to be implemented by January 1, 2020.  In the new regulation, dietary fibers are defined as naturally occurring fibers that are intrinsic and intact in plants, or as isolated or synthetic fibers that have demonstrated a beneficial physiological effect. 

“Inulin/oligofructose has been clearly shown to support physiological health benefits as assessed by the FDA’s strict criteria,” says Carl Volz, President of Sensus America, a global specialist in chicory root fiber. “The FDA’s inclusion of chicory root fiber as a dietary fiber in its new food labeling regulations allows our customers to continue marketing their products as sources of dietary fiber and to continue to use chicory root fiber as a tool to reduce calories and added sugar.”