Lithos Foods begins distributing high purity GOS prebiotic

GOS is one of the main forms of prebiotics, which are non-digestible food ingredient that encourage the activity of probiotics, the so-called good bacteria that improve the balance of intestinal microflora. Purimune is therefore marketed to help the immune system and general gut health.

One of its distinguishing features is its purity. Purimune is a 90 per cent prebiotic GOS putting it well above the market standard for purity of about 55 per cent, according to makers GTC.

Launched late last year, the reach of the ingredient is now being expanded thanks to the newly signed distribution deal with Lithos Food.

Target market ​

Lithos Food spokesperson Bea Boorsma said the Dutch company has a strong presence in Holland and Belgium and so the agreement will give Purimune a boost in these countries.

GOS occurs naturally in human milk so Boorsma said infant formulas were an obvious choice application for Purimune.

But the Lithos Food spokesperson said Purimune is suitable for a wide range of uses and the company is looking to target other potential applications such as bakery and drinks.

Hardy ingredient​

The breadth of its uses is partially down to the stability of the ingredient at high temperature and low pH.

Such processing conditions have been traditionally avoided by makers of food and drinks containing probiotics – with which prebiotics are often used in combination – because the live bacteria are not able to withstand these harsh conditions.

However, new technologies have recently opened up the route for probiotics to be used in some products that undergo high temperatures in manufacturing. This, in turn, opens up a market for stable prebiotics to be used in a symbiotic application – which is a combination of pro- and prebiotics.

Purimune, which comes in powder form, is soluble in both hot and cold water.

As well as being distributed by Lithos Food, Purimune will continue to be sold globally by GTC, which is the ‘health and wellness’ subsidiary of Corn Products International.