When was the last time you got genuinely excited about fiber? If the answer is “never,” prepare to be pleasantly surprised. At Icon Foods, we’ve brewed up a clean-label masterpiece for your next better-for-you formulation: FibRefine™ 3.5, a triple-threat organic prebiotic blend featuring soluble tapioca fiber, agave inulin, and gum acacia—all USDA Organic and all gut-loving goodness.
It’s more than just fiber—it’s a flavor-neutral, texture-boosting, microbiome-nourishing tool for formulators who want clean labels and clean results.
Above is a chart comparing flavor neutrality, texture boosting, and microbiome nourishment among soluble tapioca fiber, agave inulin, gum acacia, and the FibRefine® 3.5 organic blend. As shown, FibRefine® 3.5 offers superior overall performance by synergizing the strengths of each individual fiber into a balanced, multifunctional solution.
Meet the Power Trio
- Organic Soluble Tapioca Fiber (RS4 Resistant Dextrin)
- Gut Health Perks: Slowly fermented in the colon, it helps fuel the growth of beneficial bacteria—especially butyrate-producing strains.
- Functionality: Delivers mild sweetness and serious structure to beverages, bars, and baked goods without added sugars or off-notes.
- Viscosity: It gels just enough to offer a satisfying mouthfeel—like a creamy backbone that rounds out thin or chalky matrices.
- Organic Agave Inulin
- Gut Health Perks: A fructan-type prebiotic that’s a Bifidobacteria magnet. Fermentation leads to acetate and propionate production—both powerful short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).
- Functionality: Light and subtly sweet, it plays beautifully in protein shakes, yogurt-alternatives, and frozen desserts, without disrupting flavor balance.
- Texture: Adds a clean, rounded finish and helps stabilize emulsions in beverages.
- Organic Gum Acacia
- Gut Health Perks: A lesser-known but mighty prebiotic that resists fermentation until it hits the colon, making it ideal for delayed SCFA generation and reducing gas or bloating.
- Functionality: A hydrocolloid ninja—it provides viscosity without stickiness and supports clean gelling in bars and gummies.
- Texture: Improves chewiness and cohesion in bars, prevents sugar crystallization, and suspends particles in beverages.
Synergy in Action: Why the Blend Wins
Each of these fibers is a hero on its own—but together? They’re a triple threat. FibRefine™ 3.5 offers a synchronized release of SCFAs like butyrate, acetate, and propionate, nurturing the gut microbiome across multiple stages of digestion.
Above is a graph showing the synchronized release of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)—butyrate, acetate, and propionate—by FibRefine™ 3.5 compared to the individual fibers. The blend delivers a more even, sustained release, supporting both early and late-phase microbial fermentation, which can lead to enhanced gut health and reduced gastrointestinal distress.
Think of it like a fermentation relay race:
- Tapioca fiber kicks things off with sustained butyrate production.
- Inulin takes the handoff and fuels bifidobacteria’s sprint.
- Gum acacia closes the loop, delivering slow-burn fermentation to optimize colonic health without the gastric drama.
Below is a graph showing the rate of metabolization over 24 hours for each fiber individually and compared to the FibRefine® 3.5 organic blend. The blend offers a sustained fermentation curve that balances early- and late-stage SCFA production, supporting digestive comfort and extended prebiotic activity.
Application Sweet Spots
Beverages
Whether you’re formulating a plant-based shake, functional soda, or hydration drink, FibRefine 3.5 dissolves effortlessly and enhances mouthfeel. It thickens just enough to add body without cloudiness or clumping.
Bars (Protein, Keto, or GLP-1 Friendly)
Perfect for slabbed or extruded bars, the blend delivers chewiness, moisture retention, and sugar-alcohol-free sweetness enhancement. Bonus: low GI impact with satiety support!
Baked Goods
From keto cookies to high-fiber muffins, FibRefine 3.5 adds binding power and clean texture without compromising rise or crumb. It helps retain moisture and reduces sugar dependency.
Frozen Treats
Stabilizes creamy textures in low-sugar frozen desserts while boosting fiber content and prebiotic functionality. No icy re-crystallization. No graininess.
Gummies & Confections
Gum acacia’s film-forming abilities combined with tapioca’s gelling power help make pectin-free or gelatin-light confections a possibility—while keeping sugar out of the equation.
Gut Check: The Science of SCFAs
Let’s nerd out a little. The fermentation of these fibers by gut microbes yields short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are the holy grail of digestive health:
- Butyrate: Feeds colonocytes, reduces inflammation, and boosts gut barrier integrity.
- Acetate: Crosses the blood-brain barrier, modulates appetite, and supports systemic energy metabolism.
- Propionate: Plays a role in satiety signaling and hepatic gluconeogenesis.
By combining fast, moderate, and slow-fermenting fibers in one blend, FibRefine 3.5 ensures a broad-spectrum prebiotic effect that’s timed like a symphony—supporting both upper and lower gut flora while minimizing gas and discomfort.
Texture Without the Junk
Formulators are facing increasing demand for “no added sugar,” “GLP-1 friendly”, “keto-friendly,” “high-fiber,” and “clean label” claims—all while delivering exceptional mouthfeel. FibRefine 3.5 is your secret weapon. Its gelling capabilities offer satiny texture in beverages, satisfying chew in bars, and moist crumb in baked goods—all without gums, sugar alcohols, or synthetic stabilizers.
TL;DR (Too Long; Digestion Rocked):
FibRefine™ 3.5= Clean Label + Clinical-Level Gut Love + Functional Versatility
- USDA Organic
- Prebiotic-rich
- Glycemic-neutral
- Flavor-neutral
- SCFA-optimized
- Application-flexible
- Microbiome-supportive
If you’re a formulator looking to punch up fiber, punch down sugar, and feed your customers’ microbiomes without compromising on taste or texture—FibRefine™ 3.5 is calling your name. This blend doesn’t just check boxes—it elevates the playing field.
Let’s build something better, one bar, beverage, and better-for-you bite at a time.
Whether you are formulating bars or beverages Organic FibRefine® 3.5 is your optimized solution for maximum fiber. Reach out to your Icon Foods representative for FibRefine® 3.5 samples, documentation and usage guidance.
Since 1999 Icon Foods has been your reliable supply chain partner for sweeteners, fibers, sweetening systems, inclusions and sweetness modulators.
Request a Sample Today and Taste the Icon difference.