When sourcing xylooligosaccharides (XOS) in bulk, choosing the right Xylooligosaccharide Specifications is one of the most critical decisions a procurement manager, R&D formulator, or ingredient importer will make. The wrong grade can affect product performance, regulatory compliance, and formulation stability.
At BSH Ingredients, we supply a comprehensive range of xylooligosaccharide specifications designed to meet the diverse needs of food manufacturers, dietary supplement brands, animal feed producers, beverage companies, and more. With six distinct XOS grades available: from high-purity 95% XOS powder to versatile liquid and syrup forms, we give bulk buyers the flexibility to source exactly what their application demands.
This guide covers everything you need to know about our full XOS product line: what each specification is, how they compare, which grade is best suited to your industry, and how to get started with a bulk order or sample request.
What Are Xylooligosaccharides?
Xylooligosaccharides are prebiotic dietary fibers derived primarily from corncobs through a process of enzymatic hydrolysis. They consist of short-chain xylose units linked by β-1,4 glycosidic bonds and are widely recognized for their ability to selectively stimulate the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, particularly Bifidobacterium species.
When we refer to XOS specifications, we are talking about several key parameters that define a product’s grade, purity, and suitability for different applications:
- XOS content (%): The concentration of actual xylooligosaccharide chains in the product, typically expressed as a percentage of dry weight
- Physical form: Powder, syrup, or liquid
- Grade: Food grade or feed grade
- Moisture content: Critical for powder stability and shelf life
- pH range: Important for beverage and dairy applications
- Appearance: Color, texture, and particle size
- Solubility: How readily the product dissolves in water or other media
- Degree of polymerization (DP): The chain length of xylose units, typically DP2-DP7 for most commercial XOS
Understanding these parameters allows buyers to match the right XOS specification to their specific formulation requirements, regulatory environment, and cost targets.
BSH Ingredients’ Full XOS Product Line
BSH Ingredients currently offers six xylooligosaccharide specifications spanning food-grade powder, feed-grade powder, syrup, and liquid forms. Here is a detailed overview of each:
Food Grade XOS Powder 95%
The highest purity XOS specification available for premium applications.
Food Grade XOS Powder 95% is our most refined xylooligosaccharide product, containing a minimum of 95% XOS content on a dry weight basis. This specification undergoes additional purification steps to remove residual sugars, colorants, and impurities, resulting in a clean, white-to-off-white powder with a neutral taste profile.
Key Characteristics:
- XOS content: ≥95% (dry weight basis)
- Appearance: White to off-white fine powder
- Moisture: ≤5%
- Taste: Mild, slightly sweet, clean
- Solubility: Highly water-soluble
- Shelf life: 24 months under recommended storage conditions
Best Applications:
- Infant formula and baby food products
- Premium dietary supplements (capsules, tablets, sachets)
- Clinical nutrition and medical foods
- Pharmaceutical-grade prebiotic formulations
- High-end functional food products where label claims require high purity
- Research and development applications requiring standardized XOS content
Why Buyers Choose XOS 95%
The 95% grade is the preferred choice when product labeling, clinical substantiation, or regulatory submissions require a precisely defined, high-purity prebiotic ingredient. For infant formula manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies in particular, this grade offers the cleanest profile and greatest confidence in dosage accuracy.
Food Grade XOS Powder 70%
The most versatile specification for mainstream functional food and supplement applications.
Food Grade XOS Powder 70% contains a minimum of 70% XOS content and represents the most widely used specification in the global food and nutraceutical industry. It offers an excellent balance between purity, functionality, and cost-effectiveness, making it a go-to choice for a broad range of formulations.
Key Characteristics:
- XOS content: ≥70% (dry weight basis)
- Appearance: Light yellow to off-white powder
- Moisture: ≤5%
- Taste: Mildly sweet
- Solubility: Highly water-soluble
- Shelf life: 24 months under recommended storage conditions
Best Applications:
- Functional food products (nutrition bars, cereals, crackers)
- Dairy products (yogurt, fermented milk, cheese)
- Dietary supplement powders and blends
- Synbiotic formulations (XOS + probiotics)
- Sports nutrition products
- Meal replacement products
Why Buyers Choose XOS 70%
XOS Powder 70% hits the sweet spot for most mainstream applications. It delivers meaningful prebiotic activity at a competitive price point, and its light color and mild taste make it easy to incorporate into a wide range of food matrices without significantly affecting sensory properties.
Food Grade XOS Powder 35%
The cost-effective solution for large-scale food manufacturing.
Food Grade XOS Powder 35% contains at least 35% XOS and is specifically designed for food manufacturers seeking a cost-efficient prebiotic ingredient for high-volume production. Despite its lower XOS concentration compared to higher-grade products, it still delivers effective prebiotic functionality at economical inclusion rates.
Key Characteristics:
- XOS content: ≥35% (dry weight basis)
- Appearance: Light to medium yellow powder
- Moisture: ≤5%
- Taste: Mildly sweet with slightly more complex flavor notes
- Solubility: Water-soluble
- Shelf life: 24 months under recommended storage conditions
Best Applications:
- Baked goods and bread products
- Breakfast cereals and grain-based products
- Confectionery with prebiotic claims
- Beverage powder blends
- Cost-sensitive functional food formulations
- Large-volume food manufacturing where cost per unit is a primary concern
Why Buyers Choose XOS 35%
For food manufacturers producing at scale, the 35% powder offers the most economical entry point into XOS fortification. It is particularly popular among manufacturers in price-sensitive markets or those adding XOS as a supporting ingredient alongside other fiber sources.
Feed Grade XOS Powder 35%
Specially formulated for animal nutrition applications.
Feed Grade XOS Powder 35% is manufactured and quality-controlled specifically for use in animal feed, pet food, and aquaculture applications. While it has a similar XOS concentration to the food-grade 35% powder, it is produced and tested to meet feed industry standards rather than human food safety requirements.
Key Characteristics:
- XOS content: ≥35% (dry weight basis)
- Appearance: Yellow to brown powder
- Moisture: ≤8%
- Grade: Feed grade
- Solubility: Water-soluble
- Shelf life: 18–24 months under recommended storage conditions
Best Applications:
- Poultry feed (broilers, layers)
- Swine feed formulations
- Cattle and ruminant nutrition
- Aquaculture feed (fish, shrimp)
- Pet food (dry kibble, wet food)
- Veterinary nutrition products
- Probiotic-enhanced animal feed blends
Why Buyers Choose Feed Grade XOS 35%
The animal nutrition industry is increasingly turning to prebiotic ingredients as natural alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters. Feed Grade XOS 35% supports gut microbiome balance in livestock and aquaculture species, improving feed conversion ratios, reducing pathogen load, and supporting overall animal health — all at a price point suitable for feed manufacturing economics.
Food Grade XOS Syrup 70%
The liquid prebiotic solution for beverage and liquid food manufacturers.
Food Grade XOS Syrup 70% is a viscous liquid form of xylooligosaccharides containing a minimum of 70% XOS content. It is specifically designed for manufacturers who prefer a liquid ingredient format for ease of handling, blending, and incorporation into liquid-based products.
Key Characteristics:
- XOS content: ≥70% (as-is basis)
- Appearance: Clear to light amber viscous liquid
- Brix: Approximately 75°Bx
- pH: 3.5–5.5
- Taste: Mildly sweet
- Viscosity: Syrup-like consistency
- Shelf life: 18 months under recommended storage conditions
Best Applications:
- Ready-to-drink (RTD) functional beverages
- Dairy beverages and flavored milk
- Yogurt drinks and kefir
- Energy drinks with prebiotic claims
- Liquid dietary supplements
- Functional juice drinks
- Brewing and fermented beverage applications
Why Buyers Choose XOS Syrup 70%
For beverage manufacturers and liquid food producers, working with a syrup format eliminates the dispersion challenges sometimes associated with powder ingredients. XOS Syrup 70% blends seamlessly into aqueous systems, maintains clarity in transparent beverages, and delivers consistent dosing in continuous production lines.
Food Grade XOS Liquid 80%
High-concentration liquid XOS for precision beverage and dairy formulations.
Food Grade XOS Liquid 80% is our highest-concentration liquid XOS product, offering a minimum of 80% XOS content in a fluid liquid form. It provides the benefits of liquid handling with a higher active ingredient concentration, reducing the volume required per serving and offering cost efficiency for high-volume liquid applications.
Key Characteristics:
- XOS content: ≥80% (as-is basis)
- Appearance: Clear to light amber liquid
- pH: 3.5–5.5
- Taste: Clean, mildly sweet
- Viscosity: Lower than syrup, pourable liquid
- Shelf life: 18 months under recommended storage conditions
Best Applications:
- Premium functional beverages requiring precise XOS dosing
- Dairy products, including yogurt, fermented milk, and infant liquid formulas
- High-concentration liquid supplement formulations
- Food service and industrial food processing
- Applications where minimizing liquid volume addition is critical
- Co-manufacturing for brands requiring high-purity liquid XOS
Why Buyers Choose XOS Liquid 80%
The 80% liquid form is the preferred choice for manufacturers who need liquid convenience combined with higher potency. Compared to XOS Syrup 70%, the liquid 80% grade provides a higher XOS concentration per unit volume, reducing transportation and storage costs while maintaining ease of liquid handling.
XOS Specifications Comparison Table
The following table provides a side-by-side comparison of all six BSH Ingredients XOS specifications to help procurement teams and R&D formulators make quick, informed decisions:
| Specification | Grade | Form | XOS Content | Appearance | Moisture | Shelf Life | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XOS Powder 95% | Food | Powder | ≥95% | White/off-white | ≤5% | 24 months | Supplements, infant formula, pharma |
| XOS Powder 70% | Food | Powder | ≥70% | Light yellow | ≤5% | 24 months | Functional foods, dairy, supplements |
| XOS Powder 35% | Food | Powder | ≥35% | Light yellow | ≤5% | 24 months | Bakery, cereals, cost-sensitive food |
| XOS Powder 35% | Feed | Powder | ≥35% | Yellow/brown | ≤8% | 18–24 months | Animal feed, pet food, aquaculture |
| XOS Syrup 70% | Food | Syrup | ≥70% | Clear/light amber | N/A | 18 months | Beverages, dairy drinks, RTD |
| XOS Liquid 80% | Food | Liquid | ≥80% | Clear/light amber | N/A | 18 months | Premium beverages, dairy, food service |
Which XOS Specification Is Right for Your Industry?
Selecting the right XOS grade depends on your industry, application type, and regulatory requirements
FAQs
What are the main xylooligosaccharide specifications available on the market?
Xylooligosaccharide (XOS) is available in several specifications designed for different industries and formulation needs. The most common options include Food Grade XOS Powder at 95%, 70%, and 35%; Feed Grade XOS Powder at 35%; and liquid forms such as XOS 70% and 80%. These variations differ mainly in purity, sugar composition, and suitability for application. Higher purity grades are typically used in dietary supplements and premium products, while lower concentrations are more cost-effective for large-scale food and feed applications.
What is the difference between XOS 95%, 70%, and 35%?
The difference between XOS 95%, 70%, and 35% lies in the active xylooligosaccharide content and the proportion of residual sugars. XOS 95% offers high purity with minimal monosaccharides, making it suitable for supplements and high-end formulations. XOS 70% provides a balanced composition that works well in beverages and dairy products, offering both functionality and cost efficiency. XOS 35% contains a lower concentration of active XOS but is more economical, which makes it a practical choice for bakery products, bulk food production, and feed applications.
Which XOS specification is best for beverages?
For beverage applications, XOS Liquid 70% or 80% is generally the most practical choice because it dissolves easily and integrates smoothly into liquid processing systems without dust or additional mixing steps. For manufacturers working with powder-based formulations, XOS 70% powder is also widely used, as it offers good solubility and a balanced cost-performance ratio for functional beverages and drink mixes.
Which XOS grade is recommended for dietary supplements?
In dietary supplements, XOS 95% powder is often preferred for its high purity and low sugar content, which support clean labeling and consistent dosing. It is commonly used in capsules, tablets, and powder sachets where precise formulation is required. From a formulation standpoint, this grade enables manufacturers to more clearly highlight prebiotic benefits. Typical daily supplement dosage ranges from 1 to 3 grams, depending on the product positioning.
How stable is xylooligosaccharide during processing?
Xylooligosaccharide is known for its strong stability under common food processing conditions. It remains stable under heat treatments such as pasteurization and baking, and it performs well across a wide pH range, typically from 2.5 to 8. This makes it suitable for acidic beverages as well as neutral food systems. In addition, XOS is resistant to digestion in the upper gastrointestinal tract, which allows it to reach the colon and function effectively as a prebiotic.
What is the difference between XOS powder and XOS liquid?
The main difference between XOS powder and liquid lies in handling and application convenience. Powder forms are easier to store, have a longer shelf life, and are well-suited for dry blends and supplement formulations. Liquid XOS, on the other hand, is easier to incorporate into beverage production and liquid food systems, as it dissolves quickly and eliminates dust during processing. Functionally, both forms provide the same prebiotic benefits, so the choice depends mainly on production requirements.
How do I choose the right XOS specification for my product?
Choosing the right XOS specification depends on your product type, formulation goals, and cost considerations. XOS 95% is typically selected for supplements and premium products where purity is important. XOS 70% is widely used in beverages and dairy products because it offers a good balance between performance and cost. XOS 35% is more suitable for cost-sensitive applications such as bakery or large-scale food production, while liquid XOS is preferred for liquid processing systems. In most cases, manufacturers test different specifications during product development to determine the best fit.
What is the typical packaging and shelf life of bulk XOS?
Bulk xylooligosaccharide is usually supplied in powder form in 25 kg fiber drums or bags, while liquid XOS is packed in drums or IBC containers for large-scale handling. The typical shelf life for XOS powder is around 24 months when stored in a cool and dry environment, while liquid forms generally have a shelf life of 12 to 18 months. Proper storage conditions are important to maintain product quality and stability during transportation and long-term storage.
References
- XOS Product Range from https://xylooligosaccharide.com/products/
- Xylo-oligosaccharide Powder from BSH Ingredients https://www.bshingredients.com/xylo-oligosaccharide-powder/
