Products created with digestive-health promoting ingredients have been growing in popularity, and food product formulators should take note. With an increase in new studies linking intestinal health to improved immune function, more consumers are actively looking for these products when they shop. Of the ingredients promoting intestinal health, prebiotics and probiotics are prevalent across many food categories. Below I highlight unique, new flavor combinations for your consideration and inspiration, as well as ingredients in the Innovadex search engine that you can use in your own innovative digestive health products.
Probiotic bacteria are commonly seen in dairy, freeze dried and fermented foods. But prebiotics can be present in many forms – from baked goods to drink mixes, soups and frozen treats. The most commonly recognized ingredients in the prebiotic category are fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), which includes inulin, and galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS). But other non-digestible materials can be considered for use: polydextrose, palatinose, various oligosaccharides, and some sugar alcohols.
While the use of the term “probiotic” is now no longer allowed on a food label in the E.U., and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission is in pursuit of unsubstantiated claims on probiotic products, the Asia Pacific region is seeing a boom in sales of probiotic-enhanced products.
Prebiotic & Probiotic Category Innovations
The past few months have seen a staggering amount of innovation globally, as noted in Mintel’s Global New Products Database:
- Frozen snacks are being seen in India, UK, Colombia, Canada and USA, featuring probiotic yogurt and higher protein levels, making a better-for-you snack.
- Ice creams for dogs can be found in Germany containing prebiotic fiber.
- The kombucha (effervescent fermented tea) category is becoming larger, with more products available monthly. New and notable flavors seen in the global market that you mind find inspirational include grapefruit-sage, lavender-lemonade, raspberry-passion, cranberry, plum and kombu, as well as many ginger-flavored varieties.
- An organic sweetener alternative is launching in Mexico containing probiotic and inulin, a unique way to deliver these ingredients.
- New kimchi and sauerkraut products are hitting the shelves in the U.S.A. and Taiwan, featuring cortida, carrot, and Hokkaido cheese flavored varieties.
- More and more infant/toddler products are being launched containing prebiotic and probiotic ingredients on a global scale. In addition to infant formulas, cereals and yogurts containing these ingredients, here are some unique products which have recently received attention:
- Freeze-dried yogurt snacks with live cultures (USA, Isreal)
- Organic fennel granulated tea products made for infants with prebiotic fiber (Hungary)
- Preschool age chocolate drink mix with symbiotic probiotics and prebiotics mixed in the product (Philippines)
- Apple, spinach, pea and kiwi snacks made with coconut milk and probiotics (USA)
- Infant rusks with prebiotic fiber (UK)
- Pastas are being made containing prebiotic fiber for the Canadian market.
- Soda crackers, cookies and crisp breads are being launched in South Africa, India and Chile featuring prebiotic fiber.
- Prebiotics and probiotics are becoming more and more commonplace in dog and cat foods, and are becoming critical ingredients in certain animal feeds.
- Prebiotic fibers have recently been shown to improve sweetness and flavor perception in gluten-free breads.
Developing Your Own Digestive Health Promoting Products
I’ve compiled lists of ingredients in North America and Europe that you may be interested in using in your products below. But first, there are a couple of points to keep in mind during your development of probiotics. (1) Current evidence shows that some benefits are strain specific, so consider assuring your customers by labeling the specific strain used in your finished product. (2) Canadian veterinary studies have shown deficiencies in quantity of bacteria in some probiotic products in both animal and human foods. Make sure you can verify the volume of prebiotics over the duration of your product’s shelf life.
Now that we’ve covered some of the most important basic information, as well as trending global innovations, we can dive into the ingredients that I’ve selected to get you started. This is by no means an exhaustive list of the ingredients available in Innovadex, so feel free to perform your own searches, as well.
North America
Probiotics, including the strains of the products:
Ganeden BC30® – Bacillus coagulans
Sabinsa Lactospore® 15 Billion – Lactobacillus sporogenes (sp. Bacillus coagulans)
Lallemand Probiocap® Lactobacillus Rosell 52 ME
Greentech Lactobacillus casei
Bioriginal ProBioFlax™ Multistrain – L. acidophilus, L. paracasei, B. Bifidum, B. lactis
Lallemand Saccharomyces boulardii
Greentech USA Lactobacillus acidophillus
Greentech USA Streptococcus thermophillus
Nutraceuticals International Group Progestive® 6 Billion – Bacillus coagulans
THT – various Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Streptococcus, and Saccharomyces strains available
Stratum Nutrition BLIS-M18™ – Streptococcus salivarius for dental health
Prebiotics:
Beneo Orafti® Inulin
Beneo Orafti® Oligofructose
Cargill Health & Nutrition Oliggo-Fiber™ Inulin
Ciranda Organic Inulin from Blue Agave
DMV International Vivinal® GOS
GTC Nutrition Nutraflora® L-95
GTC Nutrition Purimune™ Galactooligosaccharide
H & A Canada Organic Inulin
Top Health AdvantaFOS™ 55 Syrup
Europe
Probiotics, including the strains of the products:
Lallemand Probiocap® Lactobacillus rosell 52 ME
Biosearch Life Hereditum® Lactobacillus Dairy
Cell Biotech International A/S DuoLac™ Bifidobacterium breve BR2
Lallemand Saccharomyces boulardii
Cell Biotech International A/S DuoLac™ Streptococcus Thermophilus ST3
THT – various Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Streptococcus, and Saccharomyces strains available
Safisis Probisis® Bacillus subtilus
Safisis Probisis® Lactobacillus brevis
Greentech Lactobacillus acidophillus
Greentech Streptococcus thermophillus
Prebiotics:
Beneo Orafti® Inulin
Beneo Orafti® Oligofructose
DMV International Vivinal® GOS
Solabia Nutrition Bioecolians®
Solabia Nutrition Bioecolians® (gosα)
Sources:
International Probiotics Association
Article: A Gastroenterologist’s Guide to Probiotics
Article: Functional Foods: Probiotics & Prebiotics
Article: Prebiotics and probiotics: are they functional foods?
Article: Impact of prebiotics on human health.
Article: Prebiotics, probiotics and digestive health.
Article: Prebiotics: The Concept Revisited
Article: Probiotics and Prebiotics
Article: Intestinal microbiology in early life: specific prebiotics can have similar functionalities as human-milk oligosaccharides
Article: Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth: Roles of Antibiotics, Prebiotics, and Probiotics
Article: The effectiveness of prebiotics in modifying the gastrointestinal microbiota for the management of digestive disorders
Article: Modulation of the Human Gut Microflora Towards Improved Health Using Prebiotics – Assessment of Efficacy
Article: What are prebiotics and do we need them?
Article: Prebiotics and Probiotics: The Importance of Gut Health
WGO Practice Guidelines: Probiotics and prebiotics
Report: Global Probiotics and Prebiotics: Moving Beyond Digestive Health Status Quo
Article: Asia: The new hotspot for probiotic drinks
Article: Is it important to include probiotics and prebiotics in a healthy diet?
Article: Health Benefits of Probiotics and Prebiotics
Article & Video: Probiotics primer: The scoop on ‘good bacteria’
NIH Probiotics Resource Page
Article: Health benefits of taking probiotics
Article: Awareness of probiotics growing worldwide, expert says
Article: Should You Take a Probiotic?
Article: For Probiotic Drinks, Asia Is the Place
Article: Some of My Best Friends Are Germs
Mini-Review: Non DairyProbioticBeverages
Website: USProbiotics
Article: Facts and functions of prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics
Article: Digestive health category remains robust
Article: What is a health benefit? Researchers issue probiotic guidance for EFSA applications
Article: The uncertain future of probiotics in the United States
Article: Digestive health products are No.1 functional food, global study
Article: Immune system support segment continues to evolve
Website: International Scientific Association for Probiotics & Prebiotics
Article: Your Gut Bacteria Affects Your Brain Function, Study Confirms
Article List: Digestive Health
Article: Gut check: Consumers, scientists target colon health
Article: Changing Gut Bacteria Through Diet Affects Brain Function
Article: Gut Instincts: The Right Moves For Protecting Digestive Health
White Paper: SURVIVAL OF THE STRAINS: INNOVATIONS AND CHALLENGES IN THE PROBIOTICS MARKET
Report: Probiotics for human health –new innovations and emerging trends
Article: Probiotics: Friendly Bacteria That No One Can Live Without
Article: FAQ’s on Probiotics, Prebiotics, and The Health of Your Gut
Article: Fiber and Prebiotics: Mechanisms and Health Benefits
Article: Sweet findings: Prebiotic sugar replacers pack nutrition, improve gluten-free bread
Article: Evaluation of deficiencies in labeling of commercial probiotics
Article: Assessment of commercial probiotic bacterial contents and label accuracy
Report: Guidelines for the Evaluation of Probiotics in Food
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