MGP Ingredients, Inc., unveiled the formal approval of its citizen petition requesting dietary fiber status under the new nutrition facts labeling regulations for its flagship brands of Fibersym RW and FiberRite RW. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has informed the company that the FDA is proposing to amend the list of non-digestible carbohydrates that meet the definition of dietary fiber to include the company’s Fibersym RW and FiberRite RW. The FDA also informed the company that it will exercise enforcement discretion until it completes its rulemaking amending its regulations on the definition of dietary fiber. With this action, Fibersym and FiberRite can continue to provide dietary fiber benefits on food labels to support the growing opportunities for healthy food applications.
 
“We are thrilled with the findings and confirmation we received from FDA this week,” said Michael Buttshaw, vice president of ingredients sales and marketing. “We stand ready to support all our industry partners in providing this long-standing dietary fiber as they create the best food brands possible while complying with the new nutrition facts labeling regulations set to begin in January of next year.”
 
Ody Maningat, PhD, vice president of Ingredients R&D and chief science officer, said, “We welcome the positive action by the agency, which validates the leadership position of Fibersym and FiberRite in the RS4 fiber category. These two fiber ingredients continue to be the smart choice for food product designers and formulators who are looking to boost fiber and lower calories of many food products while delivering health benefits to the consumers.”
 
Fibersym is a granular RS4 wheat starch that delivers a minimum total dietary fiber of 90% (dry basis). The fiber exists primarily as insoluble fiber. It is a convenient and rich source of dietary fiber that can be formulated in a wide array of foods with minimal processing adjustments. Possessing a clean flavor, smooth texture and white appearance, in combination with its low water-holding properties, Fibersym is ideal for incorporation in foods that emphasize benefits related to end-product quality and health and wellness attributes. FiberRite is the cooked version of Fibersym with a minimum total dietary fiber of 75% (dry basis). It delivers both nutritional and functional benefits in many food products, which include fiber fortification, fat replacement and calorie reduction.