XOS prebiotic approved as novel food ingredient by EFSA

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A xylooligosaccharide (XOS) prebiotic ingredient is now approved by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) as a novel food ingredient. The ingredient, marketed under the trade name PreticX in North America and promoted for gut health for the general population, is now considered safe to include in food and drinks such as bakery and dairy products, fruit jelly, chocolate, and soy drinks. The approval by EFSA now opens the XOS to the EU functional food and beverage market.

PreticX already has FDA GRAS status. The ingredient is manufactured by LongLive and distributed by AIDP (City of Industry, CA).

PreticX is obtained from non-GMO corncobs (Zea mays subsp. mays) via enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis and subsequent purification. The oligosaccharides found in the product are resistant to human digestive enzymes and are fermented by colonic bacteria. More specifically, the product is an XOS mixture with oligosaccharides constituting chains of D‐xylose molecules. In its opinion, EFSA said it found that D‐xylose was safe and had no concern for carcinogenicity, based on a two-year study cited in a GRAS dossier.