Frequently Asked Questions
We tackle a few of the most-often asked questions. Contact us to learn more about these and other topics.
Q: What is a Probiotic?
A: As defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), probiotics are live organisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host. Probiotics are “good”, “friendly”, or “helpful” bacteria which may help support good health.
Q: What does CFU stand for?
A: Colony Forming Units, the standard measurement used to quantify probiotic cell counts.
Q: Are more CFUs better?
A: We have seen published articles and clinical trials with probiotics that vary in range of total CFUs. Bigger isn’t necessarily always better, although there may be use for larger CFU applications, as seen in published studies. CFU counts provide benefits that vary from strain to strain and must be validated by clinical research to prove efficacy.
Q: What is BC30TM (Bacillus coagulans, GBI-30 6086)?
A: BC30TM (Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086) is a natural, hardy probiotic ingredient used by product manufacturers to create a wide range of probiotic-fortified foods and beverages. Backed by over 25 published papers, research shows BC30 can help support digestive health, immune health, and may help support protein absorption.
Q: What certifications does BC30 have?
A: BC30 is :
- Generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), indicating an excellent safety record
- Vegan, gluten-free, allergen-free, and available in Non-GMO Project Verified and organic compliant
Q. What is the source of BC30 and how is it processed?
A: BC30 is Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086 a spore-forming bacteria produced using a proprietary growth media that contains only naturally occurring ingredients such as water, sugar and plant proteins. The production methods are proprietary so that competitors cannot easily copy the unique, natural production methods used to produce BC30.
Q: What types of products can BC30 be formulated into?
A: Helping provide a safe and efficacious probiotic for everyone, BC30 can be found in the everyday products you’re already consuming. From yogurt, oatmeal, muffins and pizza, to instant coffee, tea, milk and orange juice, you can find BC30 in more than 1,000 foods and beverages around the world.
Q: What type of manufacturing processes can BC30 endure?
A: BC30 is the documented choice for stability, safety and efficacy, especially when considering including a probiotic in a product that requires powder blending, baking, HTST pasteurization, HPP pasteurization, boiling, freezing, etc. or where you require viability on the shelf.
Q: How much BC30 should we put into our product?
A: Dosage levels depend on the recovery rate of the material, both at post-processing and at the end of shelf life. In general, dosage levels range from several hundred million CFU to 2 billion CFU per serving. BC30 has been shown to have digestive and protein benefits at 1 billion CFU and immune benefits at 500 million CFU.
Q: Can’t I just use a generic probiotic strain in my food or beverage product? Isn’t a probiotic a probiotic?
A: Simply put, no. Probiotic safety and efficacy varies from strain to strain. While some manufacturers list their probiotic by the genus and species, the real difference is in the strain. For example, Lactobacillus acidophilus describes only the genus and species but nothing about the strain, its safety or its benefits. BC30 is properly identified as Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086, and is a patented strain that is very different from other strains – even strains of the same genus and species.
Q: Is BC30 safe for use in foods and beverage consumption?
A: Bacillus species and strains can vary dramatically. Some Bacillus strains should not be used in products meant for human or animal consumption. But BC30 is exceptionally safe, effective and stable. BC30’s studies support its efficacy and safety. As well, GRAS Status from the U.S. FDA confirms its safety for everyone from infants to adults.
Q: How do you clean equipment used in the processing of products made with BC30?
A: BC30 is very simple to clean and manage in a manufacturing environment. Unlike some probiotic strains, BC30 does not adhere to surfaces and has been validated as effectively cleaned with a variety of standard food-grade sanitizers.
Q: Can BC30 be used in low- and high-pH products?
A: Although it depends on the application, BC30 spores have been shown to remain viable throughout a very wide pH range.
Q: Is BC30 stable through the end of shelf life?
A: BC30 is stable for very long periods of time and can be found in products with shelf lives of over two years, depending on the application, environment and storage conditions.
Q: Are there any common food ingredients that are not compatible with BC30?
A: We have not found any ingredients that affect BC30’s shelf life.
Q: How does BC30 work with manufacturers to ensure viability of cells?
A: We work with our partners through every step of manufacturing to ensure cell viability. We test samples of finished products to ensure activity levels and survival through processing and have validated third-party labs to support our clients.
Q: What label claims can be made with BC30?
A: Claims are dependent on local regulations. Product-specific claims would require clinical testing in the finished form, but general probiotic claims may be made as long as inclusion rates are appropriate, and testing is completed to verify viability.
For example, in the U.S., the following benefit statements may be appropriate:
BC30 has been shown to:
- Support immune health (at 500 million CFUs per day)
- Support digestive health (at 1 billion CFUs per day)
- May support protein absorption (at 1 billion CFUs per day)
Q: Is BC30 compatible with other strains?
A: We do not recommend multiple strain formulations, because clinical support for probiotic cocktails is limited. As well, BC30 is a unique strain with substantial advantages over many other strains. For example, in most standard food manufacturing processes, any other strain that may be used would not remain viable after manufacturing. The only strain that would remain viable after manufacturing would be BC30, making the combination of strains worthless.