TABLE 3.

Regulatory definitions of fiber worldwide

Regulatory body	Definition of fiber
FDA	1. Nondigestible soluble and insoluble carbohydrates (with ≥3 monomeric units) and lignin that are intrinsic and intact in plants.
	2. Isolated and synthetic nondigestible carbohydrates (with ≥3 monomeric units) that the FDA has granted to be included in the definition of dietary fiber, in response to a petition submitted to the FDA demonstrating that such carbohydrates have a physiologic effect that is beneficial to human health.
	3. Isolated and synthetic nondigestible carbohydrates (with ≥3 monomeric units) that are the subject of an authorized health claim.
WHO/FAO	“Dietary fibre denotes carbohydrate polymers with 10 or more monomeric units that are not hydrolysed by the endogenous enzymes found in the small intestine of humans, belonging to the categories below.”1,2
	1. Edible carbohydrate polymers naturally occurring in the consumed food.
	2. Carbohydrate polymers that have been obtained from food raw material by physical, enzymatic, or chemical means and which have been shown to have physiologic benefit to health, as demonstrated by generally accepted scientific evidence to competent authorities.
	3. Synthetic carbohydrate polymers that have been shown to have a physiologic benefit to health, as demonstrated by generally accepted scientific evidence to competent authorities.

¹Noting, this also includes lignin and other compounds quantified by AOAC 991.43 and that the decision to include carbohydrates with 3–9 monomeric units should be left to the discretion of national authorities.

²The European Food Safety Authority, Food Standards Australia New Zealand, and Health Canada have the same definition as WHO/FAO, as published by the CODEX Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses in 2008.