Gut reaction – the science behind the health claims
“Health claim legislation in Europe is changing, and we have to adapt”
Our customers want to make health claims for their products – which means our ingredients must reach them with the highest scientific credentials. “Health claim legislation in Europe is changing, and we have to adapt,” says Sandra Einerhand, Director, Health and Nutritional Sciences. “That’s why we set the highest standards. We ‘conduct state-of-the-art’ clinical studies using ‘gold standard’ techniques to measure the health benefits – so our claims will stand up in any regulatory environment.”
Sandra commissions research by independent, well recognised scientists to ensure that our health claims meet international standards. And, unlike most other ingredient manufacturers, we investigate what consumers want from our customers, so we can better anticipate demand.
A new health trend concerns the power of the bacteria in our gut - recently scientists tied gut bacteria to obesity and diabetes. “It is increasingly clear that gut bacteria play an important role in the physiology of the body,” Sandra adds. “With the fibres we make, which are food for the bacteria, we may be able to influence that.”