Dietary fibre: an agreed definition

Labelling a food as containing dietary fi bre is making a health claim because of the perceptions of consumers that fi bre benefi ts digestive function, could lower blood concentrations of cholesterol, and moderates the metabolic responses to glycaemic carbohydrates. Because the main body of epidemiological and experimental data about health benefi ts derives from studies of diets based on fruit, vegetables, and wholegrain cereals, it is important to emphasise the benefi ts of intrinsic carbohydrates of the plant cell-wall that are characteristic of such diets (panel).