Oligofructose cleared for European baby foods
Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) has confirmed the use of
oligofructose, a prebiotic ingredient with beneficial effects on
gut health, as a safe ingredient in baby food.
In a two-step evaluation process, the European Commission Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) has confirmed the use of oligofructose, a prebiotic ingredient with beneficial effects on gut health, as a safe ingredient in baby food.
The emergence on the market of oligosaccharides, including oligofructose, in baby and infant foods prompted the European Commission to ask the SCF to evaluate the safety and efficacy of oligosaccharides in these applications.
The recent ruling follows scientific contributions from European ingredients companies, including Belgian ingredients company Orafti who was invited to attend the SCF hearing to explain and demonstrate the benefits of these ingredients.
After examination of all of the data submitted, the European Commission confirmed, on 26 September 2001, that oligofructose and inulin can be used in 'follow-on' foods at a concentration of up to 0.8 g/dl in the product ready for consumption.
After a second round of scientific submissions by the industry and the positive evaluation by the SCF, the Committee concluded that the safe use of a mixture of galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) and oligofructose (FOS) can be extended to infants, aged between 0 and 6 months.
Additional information can be found in the European Commission documents SCF/CS/NUT/IF/35, released on September 27, 2001, and SCF/CS/NUT/IF/47, released on December 14, 2001.
