Dive Brief:
- Gerber has jumped onto the probiotics trend, introducing the good-for-you bacteria into its milk-based powdered baby formulas. It is the only manufacturer to currently include probiotics as a key ingredient in all of its Good Start milk-based powder milk formulas, according to a company statement.
- Nestle, which owns Gerber, concluded from research that much like in adults, probiotics may support healthy digestive and immune systems in babies and young children.
- The probiotics are tailored to the babies who will consume the formula. Good Start Gentle Baby formulas contain the probiotic B. lactis, similar to what is found in breast milk. Good Start Soothe contains the probiotic L. reuteri, which the company says may reduce the amount of time that babies suffering from colic may crying.
Dive Insight:
Scientific evidence increasingly supports the use of probiotics as a health benefit for infants and small children, improving immunity and reducing colic, eczema and gastrointestinal problems.
Probiotics are found naturally in breast milk, but many babies are not exclusively breast fed.
Studies seem to indicate that giving young children probiotics can positively balance what is found naturally in the intestinal tract and which benefits immune health. But since other factors can disrupt this healthy bacteria, such as antibiotics and some diseases that can cause diarrhea and painful gastrointestinal distress, adding probiotics to baby formula and baby foods could help infants and young children.
Probiotics are one of the most popular ingredients in food today, and they are appearing everywhere from baked goods to granola bars to pet treats. It's not surprising that they have been formulated to add to food for the youngest consumers. Regardless of how well they work, the buzz around the trend may be enough to boost sales of the probiotic-enhanced formula.
