Tagatose, a monosaccharide ingredient by Bonumose, Inc. popularly used as a low-calorie sweetener, is the first sweetener and the first ingredient to receive the NutraStrong Prebiotic Verified certification.
 
This independent endorsement further establishes tagatose as an ideal ingredient for food, beverages, and nutraceutical manufacturers seeking a functional, low-calorie sweetener, the company reports.  
 
Demand for prebiotics is increasing as consumers seek out benefits for gut bacteria and overall digestive health, the company reports.
 
“Today’s consumers want their foods and beverages to work harder for them, so it’s no surprise they’re seeking prebiotic ingredients,” said Karen Weikel, PhD, director of nutrition science at Bonumose. “Tagatose is a revolutionary product, because for the first time, we can offer manufacturers a sweetener solution that provides prebiotic benefits, while maintaining the sweetness consumers desire.”
 
NutraStrong Prebiotic Verified is an industry-spanning program that classifies products with relevant and specific standards for each product category, which set a baseline to ensure the market is providing consumers with quality prebiotic products.
 
“Bonumose’s commitment to both the quality and science required for prebiotic certification serve as an example for the industry,” said Kevin Yan, vice president of certifications and analytics at SGS Nutrasource, the company that administers NutraStrong certification. “By becoming a certified ingredient, Bonumose gained access to the Prebiotic Certified program for all products utilizing their tagatose. This access gives brands the ability to certify and promote their own usage of tagatose, highlighting the benefits of such quality ingredients.”
 
“When the Global Prebiotic Association conceived of the Prebiotic Verified program as part of the NutraStrong umbrella, it was to create a reward for suppliers and brands with substantiated prebiotic products; those that invested in quality and science and those that formulated wisely,” said Len Monheit, executive director of the Global Prebiotic Association. “We are truly excited that the inaugural ingredient through the program is tagatose and that the NutraStrong Prebiotic Verified program now includes an ingredient that brands can leverage.”
 
In addition to achieving prebiotic benefits, tagatose is 90% as sweet with 60% fewer calories than sucrose, and performs similarly to sucrose across a wide variety of applications. Because of its low glycemic index, tagatose doesn’t raise blood glucose levels when consumed on its own. It is also Ketogenic Certified, Non-GMO Project Verified, and Plant-Based Certified.
 
We believe it’s important to provide manufacturers with a variety of sweeteners to meet all of their needs,” said Jim Kappas, vice president of specialty ingredients at ASR Group. “Tagatose is a fitting solution for manufacturers who seek to make every calorie count with ingredients that taste great and provide functional benefits.”