What is wheat fiber?
Wheat fibre is a neutral-tasting, light-coloured functional food fibre purified from the cellulose-rich part of wheat straw and bran. Total dietary fibre reaches 95–97% and is almost entirely insoluble. Water-holding capacity ranges from 1:5 to 1:9. Being tasteless and odourless, it raises fibre content without changing the sensory profile of the product.
Are wheat fibre and wheat bran the same?
No. Bran is the outer layer of the wheat kernel; it contains starch, protein, fat and minerals, is dark brown and has a characteristic taste. Wheat fibre is the purified cellulose fraction: light in colour, tasteless and almost entirely fibre. Far less wheat fibre than bran is needed to reach the same fibre content, and product colour and taste are preserved.
Applications in food manufacturing
In bread, toast and bakery it holds water, increases dough yield and delays staling; in sausages, cold cuts and meatballs it binds water and fat and raises cooking yield; in instant soups and sauces it supports viscosity; in breakfast cereals and bars it enriches fibre; in low-calorie products it provides bulk; it is also used in pet food. Typical usage is 2–5% in bakery and 1–3% in meat products.
Technical properties and quality criteria
Check total dietary fibre (≥ 95%), fibre length grade (30–500 µm), water-holding capacity (1:5–1:9), moisture (≤ 8%), colour (off-white to light beige), bulk density, residual gluten, microbiological values and heavy metals. Residual gluten is critical for products requiring a gluten-free claim.
What to check when buying
Choose the fibre length grade by application: long fibres give structure and water holding in bread, short fibres a smooth texture. If you produce gluten-free items, consider pea or cellulose fibre instead of wheat fibre; ask for a residual gluten statement. Germany, Austria and China are common origins. Obtain the specification, lot-specific COA, allergen statement and halal/kosher certificates with the quotation.
Wholesale sourcing: price and minimum order
The wholesale price of wheat fibre is set by fibre length, purity, colour, origin and order quantity. Because the product is light, freight forms a large share of the cost. The typical minimum order is one pallet. PERDIST identifies the grade suited to your application, compares sources and provides a written quotation with documents.
Frequently asked questions
Need current pricing, minimum order, origin or technical documents for this ingredient? Tell us the application and monthly quantity; we reply with a written quotation within one business day.