Beneo

Beneo is an ingredient company that is headquartered in Mannheim, Germany, and founded in 2007. Beneo makes functional fibres, functional carbohydrates, specialty rice ingredients, and functional proteins for use in food products that are primarily made from non-animal origins. Their ingredients are used to complete food products such as baked goods, baby food, beverages, cereals, confectionary, dairy, meat, soups, and sauces. Beneo runs an organization called the Beneo Institute. The Beneo Institute provides a platform for governments, companies, and individuals to learn more about the the science behind Beneo ingredients, provide legislative advice, and provide manufacturing guidance for companies using ingredients made by Beneo.

Beneo offers Orafi Inulin and Oligofructose which are functional fibers and plant-based prebiotics derived from chicory root which have been shown to stimulate beneficial bifidobacterial involved in digestive health. These ingredients can be used in food and drink for the purpose of weight management and support of a low-glycaemic diet. Orafti Inulin is claimed to have texturizing properties and Orafti Oligofructose is to be used when high solubility and natural sweetness are needed.

Orafti Synergy1 combines both oligofructose and inulin. Orafti was tested in a small clinical study on patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) in 2019 which resulted in reduced colitis in the high-dose group. An increase abundance of Bifidobacteriaceae and Lachnospiraceae were found but were not correlated with improved disease scores. Orafti, the inulin type fructan, produced functional but not compositional shifts of the gut microbiota. Analysis of functional profiles of gut microbiota show the metabolic potential of microbiota such as activated and inactivated biological pathways.