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What are probiotics? Are all probiotics the same? How to choose the right probiotic?

The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) brings together global leading scientific experts, and has shifted the paradigm for how probiotics and prebiotics are studied and understood. Their recent series of highly enjoyable explainer videos represents an example of scientific communication and education. Scientists classify probiotics the same way they classify all living ...

The EFSA qualified presumption of safety (QPS) list has been updated and it includes the taxonomic revision of the Lactobacillus genus

The new situation will facilitate the more comprehensive understanding of the importance of the lactobacilli and a more detailed and reliable communication. For maintenance of continuity within the QPS list, all the strains belonging to a previous designed Lactobacillus species will be transferred to the new species. Both the previous and new names will be ...

IPA believes that “the consumer will need well balanced sources of information to be able to make an informed choice”

It is important to notice that probiotic effects are usually strain-specific, and well-characterized probiotics are safe for the general healthy population. The microbiota is a fascinating study topic and we are indeed only now starting to understand what the microbiota means for us, and the role probiotics can play. Probiotics can be, and are already, ...

IPA Europe Q&A in response to the “2020 AGA Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Role of Probiotics in the Management of Gastrointestinal Disorders”

The recently published Clinical Practice Guidelines on the role of probiotics in the management of gastrointestinal disorders by the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) contains some interesting points on the role of probiotics, but also requires some clarifications. Probiotics should not be seen as the magic solution, just as drugs are not solving all the medical ...

Finally, the nomenclature of the genus Lactobacillus has been revisited

It finally happened! Today the nomenclature of the genus Lactobacillus has been revisited. The new situation allows a much more comprehensive understanding of the importance of the lactobacilli and a more detailed and reliable communication. Read more Today the nomenclature of the genus Lactobacillus, together with some other related taxa like the pediococci, leuconostocs, fructobacilli, ...

Probiotics food and food supplements in the European market

On April 3rd 2020, IPA Europe President Esben Laulund, in the video statement is calling for “a viable probiotic industry” in the European Union. In fact, most of European consumers know what probiotics are, and they are looking for it, but they can find only the products from outside Europe that are offered on e-commerce. ...

Gut Health Summit

On March 17th 2020, the second edition of the Gut Health Summit will take place in Brussels (Belgium). The market situation for Pre- and Probiotics is drastically changing worldwide. The growing knowledge and understanding of the gut microbiome creates many new opportunities. At the same time, Pre- and Probiotics are confronted with legislative restrictions and ...