Closing the Fiber Gap

Each year, roughly one-third of all food produced globally is lost or wasted. That’s about 1.3 billion tons that could be feeding a hungry planet, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. 

That staggering statistic is a big impetus behind the growing movement toward upcycled foods—the practice of repurposing things like vegetable peels, fruit pulp, and other such nutrient-dense foods that commonly go to waste, says Tony Barenie, marketing manager at Van Drunen Farms, based in Momence, Illinois. But for Van Drunen’s team of innovators, there’s another, equally compelling reason. “Using upcycled fruit and vegetables helps bridge the dietary fiber gap and deliver missing naturally bound polyphenols to the gut,” Barenie adds. Below, he explains further and describes how Van Drunen Farms is innovating in the upcycled foods space. 

For starters, how do you define upcycled fruits and vegetables?

We follow the Upcycled Food Association’s (UFA) definition, which defines upcycled foods as products that “use ingredients that otherwise would not have gone to human consumption, are procured and produced using verifiable supply chains, and have a positive impact on the environment.”

What are the benefits of using these ingredients in food and beverage products?

From a sustainability perspective, using upcycled fruits and vegetables helps prevent food from being wasted and keeps valuable nutrients from ending up in landfills. This not only decreases waste but also makes better use of our global food supply. There are also significant health benefits. These ingredients reintroduce much of the nutritional goodness of fruits and vegetables back into our diets, especially fiber-bound polyphenols. Polyphenols are micronutrients that, when bound within dietary fiber, can reach the gut intact. Once there, they are slowly released and act as antioxidants to help promote optimal gut health and overall wellbeing. Our research has shown that the diversity of fibers and polyphenols in our patent-pending formulations has a particularly gentle yet powerful prebiotic effect.

What inspired Van Drunen Farms to embrace their use?

Our journey into upcycled ingredients began when we noticed a surprising gap in fiber intake, even though there is no shortage of fruits and vegetables in the supply chain. Fiber is abundant in fruits and vegetables, so we wanted to find where it was being lost. Rather than creating a new fiber in a lab, we saw an opportunity to rescue some of the important nutrients lost during typical fruit and vegetable processing and return it to the global supply chain, helping to close the dietary fiber gap in a natural and sustainable way. That’s why we created NatureKnit™.

Why should product developers use these materials? How can they be used—describe some of the applications.

The research behind NatureKnit™ is a key reason product developers should consider using it. We’ve carefully selected a blend of specific fruits and vegetables to create a formulation that maximizes both fiber and polyphenol diversity. This blend is designed to deliver a gentle yet powerful prebiotic effect, supporting gut health in a way that few other fiber products can. Our formulation is so unique that it’s currently patent pending, underscoring the innovative approach we’ve taken.

Beyond the science, NatureKnit™ also offers a pleasant taste profile. Because it comes from whole fruits and vegetables, it has a more natural and appealing flavor than what people might expect from typical fiber sources. This makes it a great option for creating products that not only support gut health but also taste good, which is crucial for consumer acceptance.

As for applications, the product is incredibly versatile. It works well in a variety of food and beverage products. For beverages, it’s ideal for ready-to-mix (RTM) smoothies, adding both nutritional value and a pleasing texture. In food, it’s perfect for bakery products, bars, and cereals—essentially any product where consumers are looking for fiber from fruits and vegetables.

These ingredients can enhance the nutritional profile of your products while also supporting a sustainability and innovation story. Plus, by using Upcycled Certified™ ingredients, our customers may have the opportunity to get their final products Upcycled Certified™, adding even more value for sustainability-conscious consumers.

What are the challenges to using these ingredients in new products and how does Van Drunen work with customers to overcome them?

NatureKnit™ naturally contains both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber. This can lead to settling in certain beverages. To address this, we’ve had customers incorporate gums, starches, or other stabilizers to maintain a smooth, consistent texture. Additionally, the product's flavor profile might be better suited to certain applications depending on the desired taste and texture. We offer both an organic and conventional option, each with a different formulation, which allows product developers to choose the flavor profile that best suits their specific application.

Learn more about Van Drunen Farms and NatureKnit™.