The new Nutrition Facts regulations redefine fiber, adding a requirement that certain isolated or synthetic fiber ingredients must show a beneficial effect on human health. But implementation of those new regulations will probably be postponed until 2020.
In addition, two petitions have been filed requesting that the FDA revoke the new definition of dietary fiber completely, and revert to the old chemical definition. During this period of regulatory uncertainty for fiber claims, dairy formulators should reexamine the functional benefits of potential fiber ingredients.