Enzyme technology raises probiotic stability for Rhodia
system that allows freeze-dried probiotics to be stored at room
temperature with guaranteed stability of up to two years, according
to the firm.
The patented technology, exclusively licensed from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the US, is expected to save costs for customers of Rhodia's probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus as they will no longer need to use the common practice of overages - adding extra bacteria to products - to guarantee that labels are still valid at the end of shelf life.
The system could also extend the shelf life of higher moisture-content products such as nutrition bars by combining it with coating technology, according to Greg Leyer, probiotic R&D manager for Rhodia Food, who will present details of the technology at the Vitafoods exhibition in Geneva, 11-13 May.
Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, are thought to improve intestinal health, boosting the immune system and aiding digestion. Recent research suggested that probiotic bacteria do not need to be live to impart their health benefits, but until the findings are confirmed, the majority of documented evidence, showing the need for culture viability, will hold weight in the industry.
The Rhodia team believes that refrigeration requirements for probiotic bacteria have limited their use.
"Increasing the shelf-life of probiotics was a major objective for us. People don't often think to look in the refrigerator case for supplements. Now, probiotic supplements can be on the shelves where consumers naturally look for them," said Scott Bush, Rhodia Food's director of business development.
Studies have also indentified a significantly lower number of bacteria in some products, than that claimed on the label, putting pressure on the industry to conform to guarantee label claims.
Freeze dried probiotics are used in powders for supplement and some food applications such as drink formulations and nutrition bars. The new stabilisation technique is based on technology originally developed to stabilise enzymes.
Rhodia Food, the leading supplier of probiotics to supplement makers in Europe, was recently acquired by ingredients major Danisco. It is rolling the FloraFit RT technology into other strains from its FloraFIT line, including Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus salivarius and Lactobacillus paracaseii.
