Developing a high fibre carbonated soft drink with improved digestive tolerance and beneficial impacts on the gut microbiome: FUNKi-2.0

Our vision is to develop a novel carbonated soft drink fortified with a fibre-blend with evidence-based benefits to gut microbes that offers a tasty, convenient and affordable way for the UK to easily achieve their recommended fibre intake of 30g each day.

An initial assessment of the current carbonated drink formulation (FUNKi-1.0) on the gut microbiome using advanced _in vitro_ colonic fermentation models at Quadram Institute (QI) will identify an optimal fibre-blend for reformulation. This project will enable FUNKi to launch the UK's first carbonated soft drink fortified with a fibre-blend (FUNKi-2.0) that has proven digestive tolerance, benefits to gut microbes and potential to improve human health.

FUNKi-2.0 will enable consumers to increase their fibre intake in a novel and innovative way that is convenient. Eating plenty of fibre is associated with lower risks of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and bowel cancer (NHS). Despite this, only 9% of the UK population achieve the recommended fibre intake of 30g per day! (FDF). The UK's appetite for CSDs is growing with annual consumption rising from 4.6 billion litres in 2021 to an estimated 4.9 billion litres in 2026\. This concept of providing optimal fibre intake in CSDs is powerful; if only 1% of the UK had one can of FUNKi-2.0 each day, that would mean 6.7 million more people would achieve their dietary fibre intake and reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease and obesity - helping to offset the 9% of all NHS spend on diet-related chronic disease and the estimated £49.9 billion wider societal costs predicted to arise from obesity by 2050\.