Taiyo International is the sales office for Japanese firm Taiyo Kagaku and it originally obtained GRAS status for its branded fiber ingredient, sunfiber, in 1993. The subsidiary said current expansion will allow further uses for the ingredient in food and beverages. Sunfiber is a soluble dietary fiber marketed for lowering glycemic index, improving mineral absorption and maintaining digestive health. Taiyo International decided to go about expanding its GRAS status after soluble fibers had been on the market for over a decade. The company claims sunfiber can be incorporated into all foods or beverages to increase fiber content without affecting taste or texture. Taiyo says the ingredients exhibits excellent stability with respect to pH, heat and freeze/thaw conditions. Sunfiber was previously deemed GRAS for use in a list of specified foods at limited usage levels, but the company now hopes "general food use" approval will open doors for unlimited food formulation opportunities. "The expanded GRAS status of Taiyo's sunfiber offers an advantage for manufactures to create foods with mass-market appeal..." said Scott Smith, vice president of Taiyo International.
