Table 2.

Definitions of fibre from Codex and regulatory agencies in Australia and New Zealand, Canada, Europe, and the US.

Jurisdiction	Definition of Dietary Fibre
Codex Alimentarius [31]	■ Carbohydrate polymers with ≥10 or more monomeric units (DP * ≥ 10), which are not hydrolyzed by the endogenous enzymes in the small intestine of humans and belong to the following categories: Edible carbohydrate polymers naturally occurring in the food as consumed; Carbohydrate polymers, which have been obtained from food raw material by physical, enzymatic, or chemical means and which have been shown to have a physiological effect of benefit to health as demonstrated by generally accepted scientific evidence to competent authorities; Synthetic carbohydrate polymers which have been shown to have a physiological effect of benefit to health as demonstrated by generally accepted scientific evidence to competent authorities.
Australia and New Zealand [20]	■Dietary fibre means the fraction of the edible parts of plants or their extracts, or synthetic analogues, that are resistant to digestion and absorption in the small intestine, usually with complete or partial fermentation in the large intestine. ■ Dietary fibre includes polysaccharides, oligosaccharides (DP * > 2), and lignins, and promotes one or more of the following beneficial physiological effects: Laxation; Reduction in blood cholesterol; Modulation of blood glucose.
Canada [30]	■Carbohydrates with a DP * ≥3 that naturally occur in foods of plant origin and that are not digested and absorbed by the small intestine; and ■ Accepted novel dietary fibres: Novel dietary fibres are ingredients manufactured to be sources of dietary fibre and consist of carbohydrates with a DP * of 3 or more that are not digested and absorbed by the small intestine. They are synthetically produced or are obtained from natural sources which have no history of safe use as dietary fibre or which have been processed so as to modify the properties of the fibre contained therein. Accepted novel dietary fibres have at least one physiological effect demonstrated by generally accepted scientific evidence: ▪ Improves laxation or regularity by increasing stool bulk; ▪ Reduces blood total and/or LDL-cholesterol levels; ▪ Reduces postprandial blood glucose and/or insulin levels, or increases sensitivity to insulin; ▪ Provides energy-yielding metabolites through colonic fermentation. Other physiological benefits of novel dietary fibres could be accepted.
Europe [28,29]	■ “Fibre” means carbohydrate polymers with 3 or more monomeric units, which are neither digested nor absorbed in the human small intestine and belong to the following categories: Edible carbohydrate polymers naturally occurring in the food as consumed; Edible carbohydrate polymers which have been obtained from food raw material by physical, enzymatic, or chemical means and which have a beneficial physiological effect demonstrated by generally accepted scientific evidence; Edible synthetic carbohydrate polymers which have a beneficial physiological effect demonstrated by generally accepted scientific evidence. ■ Accepted physiological benefits are not defined in Regulation 1169/2011. However, repealed Directive 90/496/EEC (replaced by regulation 1169/2011) indicated that that physiological benefits of dietary fibre include: Decrease intestinal transit time; Increase stool bulk; Fermentable by colonic microflora; Reduce blood total cholesterol, reduce blood LDL-cholesterol levels; Reduce postprandial blood glucose, or reduce blood insulin levels.
United States [32]	■Dietary fibre is defined as non-digestible soluble and insoluble carbohydrates (DP * of ≥3 monomeric units), and lignin that are intrinsic and intact in plants; ■ Isolated or synthetic non-digestible carbohydrates (DP * of ≥3 monomeric units) determined by the FDA to have physiological effects that are beneficial to human health. Examples include: Attenuation of blood glucose and/or insulin levels; Reductions in fasting blood total and LDL-cholesterol levels; Improved laxation; Increased intestinal absorption of minerals; Reduced energy intake from food consumption.

Abbreviations: DP, degree of polymerization; FDA, US Food and Drug Administration; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; * DP refers to the number of monomeric units of the carbohydrate molecule.