Postbiotics for gut health: an emerging product category
In a crowded marketplace, opportunities for innovation can feel rare. But today, food & beverage (F&B) manufacturers can look to the health and wellness sector for inspiration. Of particular note is the rising consumer awareness of the microbiome, the 100 trillion microbes in the digestive tract, crucial for optimal metabolic, immune system and digestive health.
Research indicates that nearly 25% of consumers place the gut at the forefront of their health priorities while 56% of global consumers already use nutritional supplements. By moving beyond traditional supplements to food and drink with ingredients that deliver targeted health benefits, F&B manufacturers are well positioned to capitalise on this growing market trend.
A simple guide to postbiotics
Postbiotics are defined as a preparation of inanimate microorganisms, or their components, that confer a health benefit to consumers. This inanimate nature provides benefits including high temperature and humidity resistance, as well as enhanced shelf-life stability. As a result, postbiotics can be easily integrated into various products, including UHT items and ice cream, as well as a range of ambient products.
While probiotics are already well known for their health benefits, postbiotics are gaining recognition for offering similar advantages: both postbiotics and probiotics benefit the consumer’s health, while prebiotics act to nourish existing beneficial gut bacteria.
The ease of integration of postbiotics into existing products and their stability, combined with the physical and mental health benefits, make them an attractive addition to any product line. Tetra Pak’s research and development teams are continuously working on postbiotic blends tailored to different market segments and specific health needs. For instance, a digestive postbiotic yeast blend has been developed to support gastrointestinal health; an immune postbiotics yeast blend contributes to immune function and supports cellular protection against oxidative stress; while a metabolic blend contributes to protein metabolism.
The L-137 blend, a postbiotic based on Lactobacillus Plantarum supports digestive health and immune function, which are two of the common benefits that consumers look for in functional products.
Developed as a powder, postbiotics can be added during the mixing phase with other ingredients, requiring minimal capital expenditure and no specialised machinery. Postbiotics can follow the normal product heat treatment process, whereas probiotics are alive and need to be dosed after heat treatment in an aseptic process.
Since the postbiotic cells are inactive, they do not multiply nor affect the product’s flavour, which makes the potential applications for products containing postbiotics extensive. From innovative concepts like fava bean ice cream and protein tea to health-conscious offerings such as reduced sugar juices and plant-based beverages, there are a plethora of possibilities.
Tetra Pak first product including postbiotics was a ‘Protein+’ cheese developed by Italian cheesemaker Inalpi, hit shelves at the end of last year. These Protein+ Slices are enriched with immune and metabolic postbiotic blends. As the name suggests, they are also high in protein, offering 25 grams of protein per 100 grams of product. Protein+ is a showcase of the broad health benefits that enriched products can provide consumers.
New product categories are a rarity in the F&B industry, yet with the health and wellness market predicted to expand by a massive 87% between 2023 and 2030, there is a lucrative opportunity for F&B manufacturers ready to embrace postbiotics. Products that support gut health align with consumer demand and manufacturers’ existing product processes, offering forward-looking players a rare chance to lead in a rapidly expanding category.