Supporting digestive health with prebiotics in pet food

Prebiotic fiber is known to support digestive health, boost immune function, minimize stool odor and promote overall vitality in pets.

GOFOS™ is an effective prebiotic fiber delivering these health benefits in relatively low dosages: approximately 0.4% per ton for pet food formulations.

This natural, non-GMO prebiotic fiber is derived from beet sugar using a proprietary enzymatic process. It consists of around 95% short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (sc-FOS).

The underlying science

GOFOS selectively nourishes beneficial gut bacteria, such as Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli, which are essential to maintaining a balanced microbiome.

In turn, a stable microbiome promotes efficient nutrient absorption, digestive health and a strong immune system.

Research shows that sc-FOS can help improve stool quality by reducing odor and enhancing consistency.

Additionally, sc-FOS support the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the gut, providing energy to colon cells and helping to reduce inflammation. Both of these functions are critical for overall gastrointestinal health.

In comparative studies, sc-FOS demonstrated stronger prebiotic effects than other ingredients like mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) and inulin.

Moreover, combining sc-FOS with various prebiotics can offer a broader spectrum of benefits in certain formulations.

Key benefits in pet food

When used in pet food, GOFOS offers a number of benefits, including:

• Enhanced digestive health: stimulates the growth of beneficial gut bacteria for better digestion and nutrient
• Immune support: fosters a healthier gut, which plays a pivotal role in supporting immune function.
• Naturality and sustainability: derived from beet sugar, GOFOS meets the growing demand for ecofriendly pet food ingredients. It complies with the definition of ‘naturality’ by the US Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and aligns with the European pet industry body FEDIAF’s Nutritional Guidelines for natural substances.
• Palatability and solubility: GOFOS has high solubility and remains stable under pasteurization and extrusion processes, making it suitable for both canned and dry pet foods.
• Ease of use: available in 3 forms – powder, powder with anticaking, and liquid – to cater to different manufacturing needs.

The creator behind GOFOS

GOFOS is produced by Galam, recognized as the world’s largest manufacturer of fructo-oligosaccharides. Founded in 1940, Galam operates production sites in Europe and the Middle East, and also has a US distribution center.

Renowned for supplying high-quality functional ingredients, the company maintains a commitment to research-driven innovation, sustainability and consistent product excellence.