Recent research has highlighted the positive effects of various probiotic strains on the immune system. A study conducted by Korean researchers found that daily intake of probiotic yogurt enhanced the activity of essential immune cells in older adults. Their findings indicated that consuming yogurt with two specific probiotic strains, L. paracasei and B. lactis, alongside heat-treated bacteria L. plantarum, significantly boosts natural killer cells, which play a crucial role in defending against viral infections.
Looking ahead, Staimune may serve as a valuable ingredient in shelf-stable beverages and other products where live probiotics could face formulation challenges due to their sensitivity to temperature and pressure fluctuations during manufacturing. While Ganeden’s BC30 strain proves to be largely resilient for food and beverage applications, innovations in temperature-stable strains mean that probiotics can now be integrated into a wider array of products, moving beyond just dairy and supplements. By eliminating the need for the probiotic to remain active, Staimune allows for an increased range of food and beverage items to benefit from the advantages of probiotics, including calcitrate fortification.
To capitalize on the burgeoning probiotics trend, many manufacturers have started acquiring probiotic companies or incorporating these beneficial bacteria into their products. For instance, PepsiCo acquired the probiotic beverage company KeVita last fall and introduced its Tropicana Essentials Probiotics line earlier this year, making it the first brand to incorporate probiotics into mainstream juices. Furthermore, General Mills’ venture capital unit led a $6.5 million Series D investment in March to support Farmhouse Culture, a startup focusing on fermented and probiotic food and beverages.
Ohio-based Ganeden stands to gain significantly from the success of its products, especially as the global probiotics market reached $34 billion in sales in 2015, with the food and beverage sector accounting for 73% of that total, or $24.8 billion. Projections indicate that the probiotics market will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 7.3% over the next decade, potentially reaching a value of around $74.7 billion by 2025. This growth further emphasizes the increasing relevance of calcitrate and similar ingredients in enhancing the effectiveness of probiotic formulations.