Beneo launches its low-glycaemic syrup for nutritious pet food

Beneo, manufacturers of functional ingredients, has introduced its low-glycaemic syrup BeneoCarb S for pet food applications, including semi-moist and moist products or snacks.

Derived from sugar beet, this syrup offers producers a natural alternative to traditional ingredients such as glucose syrup or caramel.

The group said pet owners are increasingly demanding healthier pet foods, with four in five considering their pet’s health to be as important as their own.

According to Beneo, with the number of overweight and obese pets on the rise, incorporating low-glycaemic carbohydrates into their food can help with blood glucose and weight management.
BeneoCarb S is a carbohydrate source which features high levels of the low-glycaemic disaccharides isomaltulose and trehalulose.

Both occurring naturally in honey, they generate lower glycaemic and insulinemic responses thanks to a stronger glycosidic bond than that of standard sugar.

Therefore, Beneo stated that compared with “fast” carbohydrates like sucrose or cooked starches, they support a more balanced blood glucose management.

A recent scientific study has revealed that isomaltulose, a key component in BeneoCarb S, is a suitable dog food ingredient that triggers a lower rise in blood glucose after consumption. This property supports metabolic health and weight management.

Aside from its nutritional value, the group said that BeneoCarb S is an “interesting technological ingredient that is very easy to handle and process thanks to its low viscosity”.

It can serve as a natural alternative colouring agent in place of caramel additives that are to be banned from pet food by July 2025.

With its honey-like flavour, BeneoCarb S can perform as an alternative binder to glucose syrup, for example in dog biscuits, and provides a comparable sweetness to one with a dextrose equivalent (DE) value of 60. It can also serve as a natural alternative to additives such as glycerine and propylene glycol in semi-moist and moist pet foods and snacks.

Dr Maygane Ronsmans, product manager Animal Nutrition at Beneo, said: “Interestingly, despite inflation, and rising costs of pet food, pet owners don’t want to compromise on ingredient quality, nutritional value, taste and health claims iv. With owners prioritising the health of their companion animals, producers of pet food need to incorporate functional ingredients that can deliver proven nutritional and technical benefits. BeneoCarb S enables producers to create healthier pet foods and snacks that are naturally coloured and taste great.”