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By Thom King CFS  – Food Scientist and Chief Innovation Officer

Ladies and gentlemen, formulators and flavor wranglers, welcome to tonight’s main event. In the blue corner, weighing in at 3 grams of fiber per serving and sporting a shiny pectin belt, we have gummies. And in the red corner, carrying enough chew to pull a filling out of a tax auditor’s mouth, we have chews.

Both contenders are powered by Organic Soluble Tapioca Fiber, the clean-label workhorse derived from cassava that brings fiber, bulk, binding, moisture management, and sugar reduction to the fight. Soluble tapioca fiber has become a favorite in confectionery because it contributes chewiness, moisture retention, bulking, and fiber enrichment without imposing off flavors or excessive sweetness.

ROUND 1: GUMMIES
Tale of the Tape
Strengths

• Excellent consumer appeal
• Soft, elastic bite
• Great flavor delivery
• Easier fiber claims
• Clean-label positioning
• Works beautifully with pectin or gelatin systems

Weaknesses

• Water activity management becomes critical
• Processing temperatures matter
• Can become sticky if solids are too low

Why FibRefine™ Wins Here

Organic soluble tapioca fiber functions as a bulking agent while contributing body, chew, and moisture retention. It allows formulators to reduce sugar solids while maintaining the familiar gummy texture consumers expect.

Base Formula: High-Fiber Pectin Gummy

Target Specifications

• Final solids: 78-82° Brix
• Water activity: 0.55-0.65
• Fiber claim: 3-6 g per serving depending on piece size
• Sugar reduction: 60-90%

Texture Profile

Think:

• Fruit snack
• Better-for-you gummy
• Functional supplement gummy
• Keto-friendly gummy

The bite is soft, elastic, and resilient.

Judges’ Scorecard:

• Flavor Release: 10/10
• Consumer Appeal: 10/10
• Shelf Stability: 8/10
• Fiber Loading: 8/10

ROUND 2: CHEWS
Tale of the Tape
Strengths

• Premium confectionery texture
• Longer flavor release
• Higher solids capability
• Better heat resistance
• Incredible satiety

Weaknesses

• More process intensive
• Higher cook temperatures
• Texture tuning is critical

Why FibRefine™ Wins Here

Chews need bulk, plasticity, moisture control, and resistance to crystallization. FibRefine™ delivers all four. Its neutral flavor profile allows flavors and sweeteners to shine while contributing body and reducing dependence on corn syrup. Soluble tapioca fiber is particularly effective in confectionery applications requiring chewiness and moisture retention.

Base Formula: High-Fiber Soft Chew

Target Specifications

• Final solids: 88-92° Brix
• Water activity: 0.45-0.60
• Fiber claim: 5-8 g per serving
• Sugar reduction: 75-100%

Texture Profile

Think:

• Starburst® style chew
• Taffy
• Functional energy chew
• Protein-enhanced chew

The bite is dense, satisfying, and hangs around like a heavyweight champion refusing to leave the ring.

Judges’ Scorecard:

• Texture: 10/10
• Satiety: 10/10
• Premium Feel: 10/10
• Manufacturing Complexity: 7/10

AND THE WINNER IS…

If you’re launching:

• Functional gummies
• Supplement gummies
• Better-for-you fruit snacks

Gummies win by unanimous decision.

If you’re launching:

• Premium confectionery
• Energy chews
• Protein chews
• Long-lasting flavor systems

Chews win by technical knockout.

The Real Champion? FibRefine™ Organic Soluble Tapioca Fiber.

Whether it’s a gummy dancing around the ring or a chew throwing heavyweight punches, FibRefine™ provides the functionality modern formulators need:

• Clean label
• Organic options
• Sugar reduction
• Fiber enrichment
• Moisture management
• Binding power
• Neutral flavor profile
• Consumer-friendly cassava source

Since 1999, Icon Foods has been helping formulators solve the impossible balancing act of sugar reduction, texture optimization, and clean-label innovation. We don’t simply sell ingredients. We help build systems.

Need a gummy with 6 grams of fiber and 1 gram of sugar? Need a chew that survives distribution without turning into a brick? Need to replace corn syrup while improving nutritional positioning? That’s where we live.

From FibRefine™ soluble tapioca fibers and rare sugars like TagaLite™ Tagatose and KetoseSweet™ Allulose to RM95D Reb M stevia and Thaumatiq™ sweet protein systems, Icon Foods gives formulators the complete toolbox to create confectionery products consumers actually want to eat.

Because in the fight between nutrition and indulgence, nobody should have to throw in the towel.