Health conscious consumers want good-tasting fibre-rich products… and they are ready to pay more!

Tate Lyle Releases New Consumer Dietary Fibre Research Findings

New research released by Tate Lyle today has revealed that the explosion of consumer interest in Health and Wellness in recent years shows no sign of abating. Consistent with results from previous studies, 91 percent of the 4050 consumers surveyed consider themselves to be in good health, although more than before they believe they are overweight. As a result, 64 percent of consumers questioned said they had shown a greater interest in eating healthily over the past two years.

Consumers Want Healthy Food and Beverages …

The increased interest in Health and Wellness was reflected in consumers’ views on labelling with a majority saying that they are reading labels when choosing foods and drinks to decide whether they are making a healthy choice. 72 percent of parents also claim to be paying more attention to the ingredients used in products for their children.

The findings also confirm a growing awareness of the importance of fibre. Most respondents are clearly looking for added benefits such as digestive health and weight management, while over two thirds of parents believe that fibre is an important part of their child’s diet.

… and Good Taste!

Commenting on the survey findings, Jerome Tauzin, Tate Lyle’s Product Manager, Fibre, Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: “One way that companies can meet the demand for healthy products is by boosting fibre content in foods and beverages. Although 40 percent of respondents are still worried that higher fibre content could alter the taste of products, Tate Lyle’s Dietary fibres range has been shown to provide products with great taste.”

“The really good news is that Tate Lyle has shown that half of the European consumers surveyed are willing to pay more for a product with a fibre claim on-pack across all categories, from Baked Goods, to Dairy and Beverages. This is especially good since the study was conducted during a period when the economy was already under pressure”.

Tate Lyle’s new consumer research provides important insight on how to communicate with consumers about higher fibre content products and highlights appealing label statements for consumers. “Consumers want simple, concise labels which clearly show a product’s health benefits, to make shopping decisions easier” explained Jerome Tauzin. “For instance, a claim about ’digestive health’ for beverages received top score in all countries”.

Tate Lyle is working with its customers to provide products both with a higher fibre content and great taste and functionality. In September 2008, Tate Lyle also announced its intention to open Europe’s first Polydextrose fibre production line in 2009, at the same time as it opened its new innovation centre in Lille, France.

End

Note to Editors

Tate Lyle is happy to share detailed results of its consumer survey with business partners and to present our specially designed solutions and ingredients in person.

Please contact Oliver Williams at Financial Dynamics, UK for more information.

Oliver.williams@fd.com

+44 207 269 7294

Methodology

A sample of 4050 European consumers aged 18-65 was interviewed online for about 20 minutes in June 2008, following a qualitative approach involving 143 consumers. The research was carried out by Illuminas, a leading global research consultancy with offices in London, New York, Austin (Texas), Hong Kong and Shanghai.

About Tate Lyle

Tate Lyle is a world-leading food and industrial ingredients company, serving a global market for over 50 production facilities throughout Europe, the Americas and Asia.

Maize, sugar cane and locust beans are turned into valuable ingredients delivering taste, texture and enhanced functionality and improving the nutritional profile of products consumed by millions of people every day.

www.tateandlyle.com

Our innovation has made us a leader in cereal sweeteners and starches, sugar refining and value-added food and industrial ingredients. Tate Lyle is also the manufacturer of SPLENDA® Sucralose, STA-LITE® Polydextrose and PROMITOR® Dietary Fibres.

Through our CORE™ service program, we offer ingredients solutions that enable manufacturers to meet nutritional or costs targets without compromising on taste and texture.

About Polydextrose

Polydextrose is a low calorie polymer of glucose with versatile bulking properties to maintain taste and texture when full calorie carbohydrates are removed from a food. Polydextrose is widely represented in various categories such as beverages, dairy and bakery. It has a high fibre content giving manufacturers opportunity to add fibre functionality and it can be used for potential ‘source of fibre’ or ‘rich in fibre’ claims on the final product depending on the usage level.

© Tate Lyle 2009