Biosearch Life scores organic certification for Lactobacillus strain in portfolio first
22 Sep 2020 --- Biosearch Life has obtained its first organic certification for L. fermentum LC40 strain in its Hereditum portfolio. This certification allows consumers to “distinguish products of ecological origin on the market” and guarantee that the product “preserves natural resources.”
LC40, short for Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 LC40, is isolated from breast milk. It has been clinically proven to be an effective strategy for mother and baby, protecting infants from respiratory infections and promoting breastfeeding.
“[The certification] motivates us toward a greater commitment to the quality of our products. It is very gratifying to be able to differentiate ourselves to our end-consumer, consequently helping to protect mothers and their babies during breastfeeding,” says Monica Olivares, director of R&D at Biosearch Life.
Baby milk formula launches with an organic claim are becoming more prevalent. According to Innova Market Insights data details that these claims jump from 6 percent in 2017 to 13 percent in 2018.
Baby milk formula launches with an organic claim jumped to 13 percent in 2018, according to Innova Market Insights data.Moreover, 36 percent of F&B launches, including supplements, were tracked with an organic label claim in 2019, up from 34 percent in 2015.
In June last year, Biosearch signed a single agreement with Nestlé to launch MATERNA Opti-Lac in Hong Kong to market Biosearch’s LC40 in 41 countries. The formula targeted lactating mothers looking to reduce their risk of breast pain and mastitis – a painful inflammatory condition of the breast – during breastfeeding.
Authorization is key
Olivares previously shared with NutritionInsight about the importance of clinical validation. “The concept of probiotics should not be generalized and each strain must clinically demonstrate if it is beneficial for a given health condition,” she said.
“We agree that there are products on the market whose efficacy has not been proven. However, recommendations should be directed at strains that have demonstrated a benefit for the consumer and not toward a general probiotic concept.”
The CAAE certification service, a certification body specialized in organic production, granted the organic certification for the LC40 strain following Regulation (CE) 834/2007 on the production and labeling of organic products. It was also obtained based on inspection and taking samples under the conditions defined in Title IV of Regulation (EC) 889/2008.
Previously, Biosearch’s probiotic strain Lactobacillus coryniformis CECT5711 K8 gained clinical evidence that it can reduce virally transmitted respiratory infections in elderly populations. In two clinical trials, the strain showed it not only protected seniors above 65 years old from Hepatitis A and influenza viruses but also reduced their pain relief consumption by 86 percent.
In June, Biosearch applied for a patent for its Lactobacillus salivarius CECT5713 strain to address infertility problems in women. The biotechnology company says this would become the first probiotic-based product for this treatment and would tap into a major and rapidly growing market.
Edited by Anni Schleicher
