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- PepsiCo is ramping up its fiber offerings, expecting it to be “the next protein.”
- Companies have been packing food with protein, but health experts say fiber is often neglected.
- Increased dietary fiber is also recommended for users of GLP-1 weight loss medications.
When it comes to protein, packaged food and beverage brands have gotten increasingly creative about ways to pack more of the nutrient into their products.
Now, a shift is underway.
“Fiber will be the next protein,” PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said during an earnings call Thursday.
“Consumers are starting to understand that fiber is a benefit that they need,” he added. “It’s actually a deficiency in US consumers’ diet.”
Laguarta said the company is rolling out more offerings that contain fiber, including a reformulated Propel beverage that has electrolytes, protein, and fiber for users of GLP-1 medications.
The snacking conglomerate introduced a prebiotic version of its traditional cola in July with three grams of fiber. The company said Thursday that it’s developing a fiber-packed Starbucks Coffee + Protein line and adding fiber to items from its Quaker, Sun Chips, PopCorners, and Smartfood brands.
PepsiCo says the changes will help reinvigorate sales growth, which has been lackluster in recent quarters. The company’s share price is down roughly 6% since January.
Helping to propel the fixation on fiber (and protein) is the rise of weight loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy. GLP-1 treatments can cause gastrointestinal side effects like nausea and constipation, which can be improved by eating more fiber and protein, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Consuming the recommended amounts of dietary fiber aids digestion and is also associated with a lower risk of colon cancer.
British nutrition scientist Tim Spector previously told Business Insider that most people get enough protein but not fiber.
“Every time you eat is an opportunity to improve your health,” he said.
Spector recommends a plant-based diet in order to ensure protein intake is matched with a healthy dose of fiber.
For example, 100 grams of canned chickpeas contain about 8 grams of protein per 100 grams and 7 grams of dietary fiber, while 100 grams of chicken has 22 grams of protein but no fiber, according to USDA data.
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