As demand ramps up for ‘biotics in foods and beverages, proprietary strains that target health areas help brands create appealing consumer products.
Probiotic-enhanced foods draw crowds as a growing number of consumers seek to address specific wellness needs through foods that support microbiome health. If you’re considering creating a food or beverage featuring prebiotics, probiotics as well as postbiotics, select an expert that leads in microbiome solutions.
Just five years ago, it was a rare consumer who knew about the microbiome and its many roles in human physiology. Now, according to ADM’s proprietary research, 15% of global consumers have heard of the gut microbiome, while 67% are aware that bacteria lives in their gut. “Over the last couple of years, there has been a heightened level of interest in the gut microbiome across the food, drink, and supplements market.“ 1
It is not enough merely to obtain probiotic strains for product development. Your food or beverage will have greater chances of fulfilling consumer health needs when working with a company that has worked diligently on creating a leading portfolio of robust and efficacious strains available today. A successful consumer product begins with the expertise of your solutions partner.
The core of ADM’s innovation competence in microbiome solutions is comprised of three pillars: Research, Optimize and Produce. The development of our BPL1™ strain illustrates how these three pillars work in concert to bring a microbiome solution to market.
The Strain Development Process
The first step in commercial production of a pro- and postbiotic strain is to sort through the mammoth genome-sequenced library and then put selected candidates to the test.
ADM’s team includes microbiome specialists and physicians as well as researchers and laboratory technicians all who have collectively analyzed more than 45,000 microbial samples and successfully sequenced the full genomes of every probiotic and postbiotic currently available to us. This is followed by the use of preclinical models to identify those strains that exhibit targeted attributes associated with the health benefits of interest.
“Our extensive research underscores that all probiotic bacteria are not equal in performance,” said Antonio Martinez – Vice President, Biotics Product & Technology Platform. “The process is meticulous, but it has yielded the discovery of a strain in probiotic and postbiotic forms with evidence related with metabolic health and microbiome-support benefits along with outstanding formulation flexibility.”
ADM’s new microbiome-dedicated facility is distinctive from other microbiome manufacturers, as it is the first of its kind to provide specific production lines devoted to probiotics and postbiotics. Additionally, this facility features state-of-the-art computerized automation to create replicable results, as well as cutting-edge heat-treatment technology for postbiotic production. What this means to you and your food and beverage product is strain reliability and viability.
The state-of-the-art facility uses sophisticated technology that produces the strains through microbiology and fermentation.
About BPL1™
When looking to add probiotics to your product, strain specificity is the key to fulfilling consumers’ expectations of a probiotic product. For example, BPL1™ is a probiotic and postbiotic strain with human clinical research to support key factors of metabolic health.
ADM’s pro- and postbiotic strain was identified and developed through this process. Both the probiotic and postbiotic were tested in pre-clinical and a human clinical study. Emerging and in-vitro evidence suggests the use of BPL1™ probiotic may help support:
- Weight management in combination with diet and exercise
- Metabolic health pathways
- A healthy BMI in combination with diet and exercise
In a 12-week randomized double-blind, placebo controlled clinical trial, participants consuming the BPL1™ probiotic saw significant improvements in metabolic wellness parameters. 2
New Product Potential
Dairy remains the king of probiotic foods, however, BPL1™ probiotic and postbiotic can be flexible for inclusion in wide-ranging products.
BLP1™ may be used in dairy products such as milk, yogurt, drinkable yogurt, fermented milk, as well as alternative dairy options. Some on-trend formulation concepts that consumers will find appealing include a dairy-free yogurt alternative supporting metabolic health that contains 10B CFU of BP1™ probiotic suitable for the vegan market; and a metabolic yogurt with 18B CFU BPL1™ probiotic that can provide a satisfying experience for breakfast, or as a post-workout snack.
Both may be targeted for sports nutrition drinks, better-for-you snacks and beverages, women’s health, men’s health, active lifestyle formulations and weight wellness products.
ADM’s BPL1™ probiotic and postbiotic are GRAS and non-GMO, as well as gluten-free, Kosher and Halal.
Conclusion
Consumers are seeking products that support their health goals, and convenient biotic solutions formulated to support metabolic health are in demand. Formulating tasty products with BPL1™ probiotic and postbiotic can give health-minded consumers something to literally feel good about.
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References
1 FMCG Gurus “Health and Wellness: Gut Microbiome in 2022” 3-22
2. Pedret, A; et al. (2019) Int J Obes (Lond). 43: 1863-1868
3. O’hearn, M; et al, (2022) J AM Coll Cardiol. 80(2): 138-151
This communication is intended for B2B use and no statements are meant to be perceived as approved by regulatory authorities. Local regulations must be reviewed to confirm permissibility of ingredients and claims for each food category.
BPL1® is a trademark registered for Biopolis S.L. in the EU and other countries.