What is Chicory Inulin Powder?

Chicory Inulin Powder is a naturally sourced plant ingredient derived by extraction of the root of the chicory plant (Cichorium intybus) and is an important food, beverage, nutraceutical, and feed ingredient with multiple functionalities. It contains mostly inulin, which is a soluble dietary fiber and acts as a natural prebiotic to promote the growth of good bacteria in the gut and improve the nutritional values of multiple formulas. It is widely used as a fat/sugar replacer in the food and beverage industry, where it enhances texture, mouthfeel, and stability in the product, without affecting flavor. It has a mild, slightly sweet taste and high water-binding capacity, which means it can be used in bakery products, dairy alternatives, protein bars, drink mixes, and low-calorie formulas. It is used in nutrition supplements because of its fiber content and gastrointestinal properties, and in animal feed as an additional aid in maintaining gastrointestinal health and feed conversion. It has very good process stability, thermally stable in baking or pasteurizing, and is comparatively flexible with various processing methods, which makes it versatile and functional in being used by manufacturers who need to enhance the efficiency of products, nutritional value, and the appeal of their products to consumers.

Cichorium-intybus

COA

Parameter	Specification	Test Method	Test Result
Appearance	White to off-white fine powder	Visual Inspection	White fine powder
Odor and Taste	Characteristic, mild, slightly sweet	Organoleptic Test	Mild, slightly sweet
Identification	Positive (FTIR / HPLC)	FTIR / HPLC	Positive
Inulin Content (Dry Basis)	≥ 85.0%	HPLC	88.50%
Moisture Content	≤ 8.0%	Karl Fischer / Loss on Drying	6.50%
Ash Content	≤ 2.0%	Gravimetric Method	1.20%
pH (1% aqueous solution)	5.0 – 7.0	pH Meter	6.3
Bulk Density	0.35 – 0.50 g/ml	USP Method	0.42 g/ml
Particle Size	100% through 80 mesh	Sieve Analysis	Complies
Heavy Metals (Pb)	≤ 5 ppm	ICP-MS / AAS	< 2 ppm
Arsenic (As)	≤ 2 ppm	ICP-MS / AAS	< 1 ppm
Cadmium (Cd)	≤ 1 ppm	ICP-MS / AAS	< 0.5 ppm
Mercury (Hg)	≤ 0.1 ppm	ICP-MS / AAS	< 0.05 ppm
Total Plate Count	≤ 1000 CFU/g	Microbial Test	450 CFU/g
Yeast & Mold	≤ 100 CFU/g	Microbial Test	35 CFU/g
E. coli	Negative	Microbial Test	Negative
Salmonella	Negative	Microbial Test	Negative

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Dosage

Depending on the application and the desired objectives in formulation and regulations in various markets, the recommended use level of Inulin Powder would be applied at a range of several percent to the entire product weight, up to a maximum limit of 20%. Lower dosage can be applied in the context of bakery and snack products to increase the fiber and obtain better texture without textural feel, in dairy alternatives, beverages, and nutritional powders, higher doses can be employed to obtain preferred prebiotic functionality and mouth feel. In supplement blends, precise amounts are added to provide a predetermined daily fiber intake, which cautions the compatibility of other active ingredients and lists the stability of the product. It is common that manufacturers make pilot tests to optimize the dosage that would provide functionality performance, process efficiency, and cost-effectiveness without compromising local labeling policies and food safety.

Advantages

1. Versatile Functional Roles

Functions as a fiber, fat replacer, sugar reduction, or texturizer in a variety of product streams and enables manufacturers to achieve a range of different formulation objectives with a single ingredient.

2. Neutral Sensory Impact

Has a clean, mild flavor that can be easily incorporated into recipes without overwhelming the original flavor, thus it has sweet and savory applications.

3. Stable Under Processing Conditions

It does not degrade its structure and functionality but keeps it stable using baking, pasteurization, or other industrial processes, resulting in consistent performance between the production and the end product.

4. Supports Clean-Label Positioning

It is extracted with an identifiable plant origin, lacking any additives of a laboratory origin, as requested by the market environment of natural and less processed ingredients.

5. Excellent Solubility and Dispersibility

Soluble in dry and fluid systems, it can be easily incorporated in the production process and integrated into the finished products.

6. Formulation Flexibility

Bulk Inulin Powder is compatible with a large variety of proteins, sweeteners, and other actives and can be the basis of new product development, and so does not affect stability or appearance.

Inulin-application

Application

1. Food & Beverage Manufacturing

Chicory Root Inulin Powder is used in bakery products, dairy substitutes, confectionery, and beverages to increase the fiber components, enrich the texture, to allow fat or sugar reduction without compromising food quality.

2. Nutritional Supplements

Added to blends of powders, capsules, and functional gummies as a natural prebiotic dietary fiber to promote digestive functioning and general nutritional balance.

3. Specialized Health Foods

Combined with foods directed to wellness-minded consumers, namely foods high in fiber, meal replacers, and sports nutrition supplements, to enhance functional value.

4. Animal Nutrition

They have a wide range of applications as they are incorporated into the formulation of feeds to be provided to livestock, poultry, and pets with the idea of enhancing the microbiota balance in the guts and efficiencies in feeding.

5. Pharmaceutical & Nutraceutical Formulations

It is used as a functional excipient and fiber source in some of the medicinal or fortified preparations where it is preferable to provide digestive aid.