European Prebiotics Market Expands into Food, Beverage Industry

LONDONThe European prebiotics market is diversifying and expanding in importance and value throughout the food and beverage industry, with several exciting developments in infant formula products, dairy and beverages, and the expansion of prebiotic ingredients into new application sectors such as snack products and meat products, according to new analysis from Frost & Sullivan.

Analysts reported that the market earned revenues of 295.5 million in 2008, representing a volume of 91,905 tons. The prebiotics market is expected to reach 766.9 million in 2015, with overall volumes of 204,895 tons and a compound annual growth rate of 14 percent.

Prebiotics in food and beverage products are attractive and extremely useful in a wide variety of applications, as they have properties for enhancing texture, general fiber provision and, most importantly, their primary market driver is their high functionality, which corresponds with the increasingly health-driven market in Europe and the growing importance of digestive health to consumers, noted Frost & Sullivan Industry Analyst Dr. Deborah Cross. Prebiotics act as food sources or ideal substrates for the growth of probiotic bacteria. In the human food market, the prominent market of digestive health products has been positively associated with the use of both probiotic and prebiotic products, with the view that gut microfloral composition can be manipulated or controlled selectively and positively through the preventive use of both these ingredients.

The report examines fructans (Inulin, Fructo-oligosaccharides) and lactose-derived prebiotics (galacto-oligosaccharides and galacto-fructans), with separate forecasts for each type of ingredient. Resistant starch and other novel prebiotics also are considered.