Research Shows Americans are Becoming More Aware of Probiotics
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Aug. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- As Americans are becoming increasingly aware of probiotics, recently released guidelines from the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) provide increased clarity about the definition of probiotics.(1) This is significant because today more than half (52 percent) of Americans said they are aware of the term probiotics, and 44 percent of people say they can define probiotics, as live bacteria that, when consumed in sufficient quantities, can provide health benefits.(2)
The recently released ISAPP guidelines clarify the definition of probiotics. According to the new guidelines, a probiotics must meet all of the following criteria:
Be live, active cultures at the time they are consumed
Have undergone peer-reviewed clinical testing to document health benefit claims
Be clearly defined at the genus, species and strain level
Be safe for their intended use
"Consumers can be confident that Dannon's probiotic products, DanActive and Activia, meet the new ISAPP recommendations," said Miguel Freitas, Ph.D., Dannon's Director of Health Affairs. "Activia, which contains Bifidus Regularis(TM), is supported by several clinical studies that show it can help regulate the digestive system by helping with slow intestinal transit." DanActive, with L. casei Immunitas(TM), has more than 25 studies that prove its role in helping strengthen the body's defenses."(3)
Americans' understanding of probiotics has risen steadily since 2006, at which time only 20 percent considered themselves knowledgeable. Last year, 30 percent of Americans said they were knowledgeable about the topic and 37 percent responded the same in 2009.(1)
(2) StrategyOne Dannon Consumer Omnibus Survey, May 2009
(3) Activia is scientifically proven to help with slow intestinal transit when consumed daily for two weeks as part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. DanActive helps strengthen the body's defenses when consumed daily as part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.
ABOUT THE DANNON COMPANY
The Dannon Company is America's founding national yogurt company and continually leverages its expertise to develop and market innovative cultured fresh dairy products in the United States.
Headquartered in White Plains, N.Y., Dannon has plants in Minster, Ohio, Fort Worth, Texas, and West Jordan, Utah and produces approximately 100 different types of flavors, styles and sizes of cultured fresh dairy products. Dannon is a subsidiary of Danone, one of the world's leading producers of packaged foods and beverages, and Dannon is the top-selling brand of yogurt products worldwide, sold under the names Dannon and Danone.
