▲Hyelim Kim, a senior researcher at Samyang, introduced the Kestose material at Future Food‑Tech San Francisco 2026 (FFT 2026) held in San Francisco, USA, on March 19–20 (local time). Photo=Samyang
Samyang is stepping up its global push after unveiling Kestose, a next‑generation crystalline dietary fiber developed in‑house.
Kestose is a type of fructooligosaccharide (FOS) that acts as a prebiotic, feeding the beneficial bacteria in the gut.
Unlike typical powdered or liquid dietary fibers, Samyang’s Kestose is formulated as crystals. That crystalline form means it’s less hygroscopic, resists clumping, and dissolves quickly—making it easy to incorporate into everything from sugar‑based treats to powdered beverages.
Samyang also set Kestose apart on the ingredient front. It contains more than 99% fructooligosaccharides, helping boost dietary fiber intake. It delivers about 30% of the sweetness of sugar while keeping total sugars around 1%, so it can help lower overall sugar content. Those properties make it a strong fit for premium, nutrient‑dense products like snack bars, yogurt, protein drinks, and functional supplements.
Samyang unveiled the crystalline Kestose for the first time at Future Food‑Tech San Francisco 2026 (FFT 2026), held in San Francisco, California, on March 19–20.
FFT 2026 brings together global food companies, startups, investors, and research institutes to showcase disruptive food technologies and future market trends. This year’s event drew more than 1,500 industry professionals from 200 companies across 40 countries.
At the conference session, Hyelim Kim, a senior researcher at Samyang, spoke about global dietary fiber trends and walked attendees through the physicochemical traits, functionality, and category‑specific applications of crystalline Kestose.
During the event, Samyang also offered tasting samples of an electrolyte drink powder stick made with Kestose and discussed application possibilities with global food companies and industry stakeholders.
Han Jeong‑suk, head of Samyang’s Food Research Institute, said, "We will actively target the global food market by leveraging the strengths of our next‑generation crystalline dietary fiber, Kestose. We plan to continue strengthening R&D on functional food ingredients, expand collaborations with global food companies, and boost our market competitiveness."
Meanwhile, Samyang is accelerating R&D in specialty food ingredients—including the alternative sweetener allulose and the functional fiber resistant maltodextrin—as it pushes into global markets.
Reporter Min‑gyu Song songmg@ekn.kr
