| Autor: |
Jackson SA; National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, United States., Schoeni JL; Eurofins Food Integrity and Innovation, Madison, WI, United States., Vegge C; Chr. Hansen, Hørsholm, Denmark., Pane M; Biolab Research srl, Novara, Italy., Stahl B; DuPont Nutrition & Health, Madison, WI, United States., Bradley M; GNC/Nutra Manufacturing, Inc, Greenville, SC, United States., Goldman VS; Department of Dietary Supplements and Herbal Medicines, Science Division, US Pharmacopeial Convention, Rockville, MD, United States., Burguière P; AMA Research Solutions, Lyon, France., Atwater JB; US Pharmacopeial Convention, Rockville, MD, United States., Sanders ME; International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics, Sacramento, CA, United States. |
| Abstrakt: |
In a rapidly growing global probiotic market, end-users have difficulty distinguishing between high quality and poor quality products. This ambiguity threatens the trust consumers and healthcare providers have in probiotic products. To address this problem, we recommend that companies undergo third-party evaluations to certify probiotic quality and label accuracy. In order to communicate about product quality to end-users, indication of certification on product labels is helpful, although not all manufacturers choose to use this approach. Herein we discuss: third-party certification, the process of setting standards for identity, purity, and quantification of probiotics; some emerging methodologies useful for quality assessment; and some technical challenges unique to managing quality of live microbial products. This review provides insights of an Expert Panel engaged in this process and aims to update the reader on relevant current scientific methodologies. Establishing validated methodologies for all aspects of quality assessment is an essential component of this process and can be facilitated by established organizations, such as United States Pharmacopeia. Emerging methodologies including whole genome sequencing and flow cytometry are poised to play important roles in these processes. |
