Ingredion Inc. expanded its functional ingredients portfolio Tuesday with the acquisition of Benicaros, a prebiotic fiber made of upcycled carrot pomace, from Netherlands-based health and wellness company NutriLeads.
The deal comes two weeks after Westchester, Ill.-based Ingredion offered $3.7 billion to purchase British ingredients maker Tate & Lyle to create a $10 billion global ingredient powerhouse.
Terms of the Benicaros deal were not immediately available.
Meanwhile, Tate & Lyle is making its own headlines with the news Wednesday that four product lines within its prebiotic fiber portfolio achieved NutraStrong Prebiotic Verified certification.
Ingredion expands
The Benicaros acquisition is part of Ingredion’s growth strategy that includes the 2024 launch of a $2.4 billion global texture and healthful solutions segment.
Benicaros is clinically proven to support immune health by stimulating beneficial gut bacteria, Ingredion said in its announcement.
“As we expand our functional ingredients offering, Benicaros’ versatility and health benefits make it a perfect fit for our portfolio,” said Nate Yates, Ingredion vice president and general manager of sugar reduction and fiber fortification. “This highly differentiated prebiotic carrot fiber addresses the limitations of traditional prebiotic fibers that require high daily intake, have tolerance issues and formulation challenges.”
Benicaros applications
The ingredient is water soluble, making it versatile for functional foods, beverages and dietary supplements, according to Ingredion.
Benicaros founder Ruud Albers said in 2023 that the ingredient delivers the benefits of prebiotics without the side effects of gas and bloating, calling it “a unique prebiotic with a complex structure that stimulates beneficial microorganisms that are present in the gut of everyone.”
It’s also versatile because of its low dosage, as roughly 300 milligrams can fit into a gummy, capsule, food or beverage product.
Ingredion said the ingredient also addresses consumer demands for food and beverages that are plant-based, clean-label, kosher, halal, gluten-free, upcycled and sustainable.
“The benefits list of Benicaros is quite long, and the fact that it comes from upcycling carrot juice production, supporting sustainability and a circular-economy, is all the more exciting,” Yates said.
Nurileads flagship product
NutriLeads’ flagship product, Benicaros, was launched in 2021 with the mission of “translating scientifically substantiated health benefits into impactful customer innovation through our precision prebiotic, Benicaros,” according to NutriLeads CEO Jan Jongsma.
“By joining Ingredion Inc., we can accelerate that mission – empowering our customers to bring effective, evidence-based, great-tasting solutions to market that stand out with today’s health-focused consumers worldwide,” Jongsma said.
NutriLeads highlights nearly two dozen products on the market using Benicaros, including instant coffee and soft drinks. Most of the items, however, are nutritional supplements.
The company offers concept food and beverage products on its website, including sports drinks, protein bars and Greek yogurt.
The company notes that the product has little to no impact on taste, color, texture or odor.
Tate & Lyle prebiotic certified
The new Ingredion acquisition will dovetail with Tate & Lyle’s line of recently certified prebiotic fiber products, if the $3.7 billion deal is approved.
The certification includes Tate & Lyle’s PROMITOR Soluble Fibre, Sta-Lite Polydextrose, Euoligo Fos and Gosyan Gos product ranges.
Tate & Lyle said the certification will give consumers added confidence in the company’s products, including beverages, dairy, bakery, snacks, cereals, bars and supplements.
“This certification recognizes the strength and depth of the science underpinning our fiber portfolio and our continued commitment to advancing evidence-based nutrition. The efficacy assessment confirms that each ingredient functions as a prebiotic and identifies the dosage range or minimum dose at which this effect has been demonstrated,” said Katie Adolphus, nutrition science lead, fibers, Tate & Lyle.
