Market Trends of Asia-Pacific Prebiotic Ingredients Industry
This section covers the major market trends shaping the APAC Prebiotic Ingredients Market according to our research experts:
Acquisitive Demand of Prebiotics for Fortifying Food & Beverages
Prebiotic ingredients are considered to be a functional food ingredient and extensive utilization in food products as a fat replacement and substitution (meat products, milk products, etc.), and due to its properties such as reduction of caloric value (sugar-free chocolate, meat substitutes), water-holding ability (bakery goods). It is also used to modify the texture and viscosity of foods. Moreover, prebiotic ingredients improve the texture of low-fat meat products by increased lubricity.
Manufacturers, such as Sensus, and Ingredion Inc., have come up with innovative sweetener alternatives, such as FOS, which significantly reduces the sugar content in processed food and beverages. Inulin is the most widely proven prebiotic fiber available, which provides a soluble dietary fiber trait. Owing to the aforementioned factors, prebiotic ingredients are highly used in dairy products' formation, such as ice cream, cheese, and yogurts. Cheese produced with inulin is less hard, springy, cohesive, and chewy than reducedfat cheese, and more similar to cheeses made from whole milk. This factor is fueling up the application of inulin in cheese production, thus providing a great demand for prebiotic fortified food.
India is the Fastest Growing Market in the Asia Pacific Region
India market for prebiotics has been witnessed to have the fastest growing market in the Asia Pacific region, owing to the extensive usage of prebiotic ingredients in dairy products, followed by cereals as India has allowed regulatory approval for prebiotics in sweets, dairy products, frozen desserts, ice cream, baked goods, cereals, chocolates, and meat products since 2011. With more than 37 million diabetics and 400 million overweight people in India, there is an increasing demand for low sugar foods, which is expected to continue to boost the demand for prebiotic ingredients. In addition, increasing R&D by companies to introduce novel prebiotic ingredients, such as xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS), is likely to help the market grow. Lifestyle-related diseases are increasing at an alarming rate in India. As a result, the market has seen an increased demand for fortified foods.
