Cambridge Commodities unveils heat-stable probiotic for bakery

16 Jul 2020 --- Responding to the growing trend for food fortification with probiotics, Cambridge Commodities has launched a new probiotic strain called ActiBio BS01. The latest strain from the ActiBio shelf-stable live cultures range contains Bacillus subtilis, a spore-forming, lactic acid-producing bacteria that is stable throughout a wide range of temperatures and extreme acidic conditions. This is particularly advantageous for food applications, considering commonly used probiotics in food with lactic acid-producing bacteria are generally limited in application range due to their low tolerance to heat and acid.

ActiBio BS01 builds off of Cambridge Commodities’ original Bacillus coagulans strain, ActiBio BC01. “The latest strain launch is exciting because it allows us to make multiple strain shelf stable formulations. Probiotic products that have combinations of up to 12 different strains are very common but these products can often have less efficacy due to shelf stability. With our new addition, customers can now combine two different shelf stable strains, increasing the diversity and helping to further promote gut health,” Zeke Stevens, Product Innovation Specialist at Cambridge Commodities, tells NutritionInsight.

Click to EnlargeWith interest in food fortification with probiotics rising, ActiBio BS01 provides a solution to bakery application challenges.ActiBio BS01 comes as a gray-white color in powder form and provides 15 billion colony forming units per gram. Product applications include capsules, drinks and powder blends, but also snacks, bakery and other foods. The temperatures used in baking muffins and cakes, for example, do not inactivate the spores. A report from early May detailed that consumer demand for fortifying takeout food with probiotics is rising. Moreover, this demand could be met by adding functional ingredients to the foodservice sector.

Bacillus subtilis is known for its ability to induce high levels of amylase and protease enzyme production in the intestine. This aids with digestion and the formation of gut diversifying biofilms, which support the growth of beneficial bacteria in the microbiome. Besides its heat resistance properties, ActiBio BS01 has proven gastric stability, very high sporulation efficiency and can be stored and transported without refrigeration.

“[ActiBio BS01] is stable throughout a wide range of temperatures and can also survive extreme acidic conditions. Not only does this give confidence to shelf life but also ensures that the probiotics can more successfully pass through the stomach and reach the areas of the gastrointestinal tract that they need to proliferate and improve gut health,” says Stevens.

Gut health top of mind
Digestive health is increasingly becoming a priority for consumers’ health and wellness rituals. Tapping into this lucrative market, the wholly owned subsidiary of OptiBiotix Health recently entered into a non-exclusive distribution agreement with Cambridge Commodities for the UK distribution of ProBiotix’s heart health-targeting probiotic products. 

Meanwhile, World Microbiome Day celebrated annually on June 27 highlighted the important role of microbial diversity to support gut health. 

Bacillus subtilis has also been gaining popularity to support cognitive health and weight management. ADM’s Bacillus subtilis PXN 21 was shown in a cellular model to inhibit the accumulation of a protein that is associated with Parkinson’s disease progression. In similar strides, a study issued by Canada-based company Lallemand found Bacillus subtilis Rosell-179 deconjugated bile acids in overweight otherwise healthy adults.

“The future of food fortification with bacterial strains will continue to grow. Consumer knowledge around the microbiome and the profound impact that it has on one’s overall health will continue to increase, as will the demand to provide ingredients that allow us to formulate successfully,” Stevens concludes.

By Anni Schleicher

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