Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
In-house production of galacto-oligosaccharides in a number of
countries makes it difficult to obtain precise data on world production.
Such production is used directly for other products such as animal feed
and infant milk foods. We estimate that total world production of all the
above lactose-derived products in 2009 will be 83,000-90,000 t. In addi-
tion, there will be substantial production of lactose hydrolysate and
galactose.
5.5.2.
b
-Galacto-oligosaccharides
Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOSs) have been manufactured commer-
cially since the mid-1980s, principally by three Japanese companies - Yakult
Honsha Co. Ltd., Snow Brand Milk Products and Nissin Sugar Manufactur-
ing Co. Ltd. Commercial production in Europe commenced in 1995 in the
Netherlands. In-house production has also occurred elsewhere, including in
Australia and New Zealand.
The early establishment of a gut microflora in babies dominated by
bifidobacteria, particularly in breast-fed babies, has been attributed to the
presence of oligosaccharides in human milk. Although highly diverse, these
human milk oligosaccharides have a backbone that is structurally similar to
GOS. Hence, the inclusion of GOS as bifidogenic factors in infant products
has been an important driver of the commercial production of GOS. The
companies principally involved in the manufacture and marketing of GOS
are Yakult Honsha Co Ltd., Nissin Sugar Manufacturing Co. Ltd. and
Friesland Foods Domo (formerly Borculo Domo Ingredients) (Table 5.7).
Yakult produces three galacto-oligosaccharide products: Oligomate 55
(syrup), Oligomate 55P (powder) and TOS-100 (a purified powder containing
99% oligosaccharides). Nissin also produces a syrup (Cup-Oligo H70) and a
powder (Cup-Oligo P), while Friesland Foods Domo produces a syrup,
Vivinal GOS. On the other hand, Snow Brand has now sub-contracted
production and includes galacto-oligosaccharides in infant milk formula
powders (e.g., P7 powder containing 1.2% oligosaccharide). With the excep-
tion of the purified powder produced by Yakult, the other commercial
food-grade galacto-oligosaccharides all contain 40-70% of tri- and tetra-
saccharides.
5.5.3.
Lactulose
The two major manufacturers of lactulose are Solvay Pharmaceuticals
and Morinaga Milk Industry. The Solvay production seems to be geared
towards
pharmaceutical
applications,
while
Morinaga's
production
