Oat Fiber for Better Health

According to the 2010 Food & Health Survey" conducted by the International Food Information Council, Washington, D.C., 72% of Americans are trying to consume more fiber in their daily diet. And, in a release earlier this year related to the 2010 update of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the advisory committee that helped draft those guidelines specifically noted that U.S. consumers are not getting enough fiber in their diet. Grain Millers, Inc. manufactures a line of oat fibers that can help product designers boost fiber levels in a wide variety of foods to help meet this growing demand for healthier, fiber-rich foods.

The companys natural oat fiberavailable in conventional and organic versionsis produced from food-grade oat hulls via a proprietary, chemical-free process. Two different natural oat fibers are available, differing only in their degree of moisture absorption: the standard-absorption BCS20 (250% water absorption, or w.a., the percent by weight of water bound to the fiber) and a higher-absorption BCS30 (over 300% w.a.). Oat fiber has many uses in bakery products, ready-to-eat cereals, meat extenders and snacks. These fiber products consist of over 90% of insoluble fiber and less than 0.5% of soluble fiber, says Darren Schubert, vice president, sales & marketing, West Coast.

Natural oat fibers provide a wide range of benefits when used in small amounts within a formula, from improving dietary fiber or increasing water absorption to increasing shelf life or crumb texture," says Schubert.

The companys hydrocolloid fiber primarily comes into play with meat products. The fibers within the hydrocolloid blend are oat fiber (primarily insoluble) and oat bran (soluble and insoluble fiber)," says Schubert. The combination of the two fibers and our proprietary process create a unique matrix within meat systems that improves the texture (bite) and binding characteristics over straight insoluble fibers." The ingredient exhibits excellent hydrophylic and lipophilic holding properties, and has between 3% and 4% beta-glucanthe primary reason for its ability to improve the binding of water and fat within meat products.

Grain Millers, Inc.

Cabriole Center

9531 W. 78th Street

Eden Prairie, MN 55344

Phone: 952/829-8821

800/232-6287

Fax: 952/829-8819

Website: grainmillers.com