Nutralliance, an ingredients supplier specializing in a wide range of products, recently announced that its line of probiotics products, which it distributes for South Korea-based Ildong Bioscience, has obtained self-affirmed GRAS status, which is now formally known as an independent conclusion of GRAS. Nutralliance is the exclusive distributor of Ildong Biosciences’ products.
 
The GRAS conclusion covers the strains in Nutralliance’s 11 lactic acid-producing species: Bacillus coagulans, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium lactis, Lactobaccillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei/paracasei, Lactobacillus plantarumm, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactocbacillus johnsonii, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactococcus lactis, and Streptococcus thermophilus.
 
GRAS conclusion will expand the capabilities for these strains to be used in the continually expanding probiotic product market.
 
“The probiotics area has gotten traction and is growing as new scientific data flourishes and innovation in terms of benefits and applications are discovered,” Ana Maria Cuentas, director of probiotics for Nutralliance, said. “The strains have gone through stringent screening processes to ensure their safety and efficacy, and we strive to provide not a replacement product, but one that is able to work synergistically with existing or new formulations.”
 
The line of probiotics offered by Nutralliance has a patented quadruple-coating technology, with a four-layer coating system consisting of guar gum, hyaluronic acid, maltodextrin, and a soy protein isolate, all of which are non-GMO. This protects the strains’ structure and integrity which allows them to arrive alive and intact in the lower GI tract.
 
The four-layer coat provides protection against moisture, humidity, air, gastric acid, bile salts, and heat, Cuentas said.
 
Ildong Bioscience strains are whole-genome sequenced, Kosher, and non-GMO, and the companies report that there is potential that more strains will be added to Ildong’s portfolio soon. The two companies also intend to expand their research, which includes in vitro, in vivo, and human clinical trials, in order to further understand the benefits of the probiotics and coating, beyond the measures of survival and stability.