Advancements in soluble fibers have given beverage developers a whole new set of tools for delivering products that help to fill the fiber gap. Although even the savviest of consumers might not know the difference between inulin and oligofructose, they are beginning to explore the growing number of fiber-rich options available outside of the bread and snack bar categories.

In a broad sense, You’ve probably heard fiber categorized as insoluble and soluble, but the classifications are even more complex. Fiber can be subcategorized in a number of ways including by viscosity, fermentability, physiological effect, source or chemical structure. Understanding fiber through these various lenses is the key to producing products that can speak to today’s consumers, experts note.