Publication of Paper Reporting Increased Mortality in Study of Six-strain Blend

Publication of paper reporting increased mortality in study of six-strain blend of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium on infectious complications in patients with severe pancreatitis. ISAPP reacts. Earlier ISAPP response to the pre-publication press release can be found here.

Young Investigator Grant Program

Dannon and Yakult announce a new Young Investigator Grant Program. Two awards of $50,000 will be granted to young investigators for original research in the area of gut microbiota and health. See www.probioticsresearch.com.

Free Webinar on “Probiotics and Their Role in Gut Health”

Free webinar on “Probiotics and their Role in Gut Health” sponsored by “Natural Products Insider.” Robert Hutkins, Ph.D., Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Nebraska will present.

Human Microbiome Project Was Added to the US National Institutes of Health Roadmap

Human Microbiome Project was added to the US National Institutes of Health Roadmap for Medical Research, with the aim of generating resources enabling comprehensive characterization of the human microbiota and analysis of its role in human health and disease. http://nihroadmap.nih.gov/hmp/

Qualified Presumption of Safety

Qualified Presumption of Safety: The European Food Safety Authority just issued report describing an opinion on the QPS approach to safety of microorganisms used in foods. “Introduction of a Qualified Presumption of Safety (QPS) approach for assessment of selected microorganisms referred to EFSA – Opinion of the Scientific Committee.” See: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/EFSA/efsa_locale-1178620753812_1178667590178.htm

Probiotics Market Report

Probiotics Market Report: “Strategic Analysis of the North American Probiotics Markets: Human Nutrition” (Executive Summary).

Announcing the Publication of an Issue Paper Sponsored by CAST

Announcing the publication of an issue paper sponsored by CAST (Council for Agricultural Science and Technology, www.cast-science.org) which comprehensively covers the field of probiotics. Authored by four members of the ISAPP board of directors (Drs. Sanders, Gibson, Gill and Guarner), this paper was written with a lay audience as at target. Announcement.
Click here to download this article for free.

ISAPP’s President, Gregor Reid, Receives Award for Bringing Probiotic Yogurt to Africa

ISAPP’s President, Gregor Reid, receives award for his role in efforts to bring probiotic yogurt to Africa.
Download the press release

Probiotic Council within the National Yogurt Association has Been Established

A Probiotic Council within the National Yogurt Association (www.aboutyogurt.com) has been established. This council is intended to be the voice of industry as it relates to standards
and regulatory issues for probiotics, at least as they related to dairy foods. This is an important development because it leverages the significant resources and expertise in regulatory affairs of the NYA trade association to promote appropriate standards for probiotics in the US. Press release.

FDA Final Ruling on Current Good Manufacturing Practices for Dietary Supplements

FDA final ruling on current Good Manufacturing Practices for dietary supplements. Under the final rule, manufacturers are required to evaluate the identity, purity, strength, and composition of their dietary supplements. If dietary supplements contain contaminants or do not contain the dietary ingredient they are represented to contain, FDA would consider those products to be adulterated or misbranded. This ruling addresses a pressing need in the probiotic industry with regard to products being mislabeled as to what microbes are present and their presence at labeled levels.

Non-commercial, Educational DVD Produced by ISAPP President Dr. Gregor Reid and Danone

A non-commercial, educational DVD produced by ISAPP President Dr. Gregor Reid and Danone (Paris, France) which illustrates how probiotics function in vivo is available now in 12 languages. See press
release

The European Food Safety Authority Invites Public Comment

The European Food Safety Authority invites public comment on the Qualified Presumption of Safety (QPS) approach for the safety assessment of microorganisms deliberately added to food and feed.

NCCAM, an NIH funding Agency, Forms Product Quality Working Group

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), an NIH funding agency, forms Product Quality Working Group to assess quality of natural substances, including probiotics and prebiotics, that are subjects of research.

Consumer Reports on Probiotics

Consumer Reports on probiotics:
ISAPP responds

2001 FAO Report

2001 FAO Report: Probiotics in food health and nutritional properties and guidelines for evaluation
Download report

New Journal: International Journal of Probiotics and Prebiotics

New journal: International Journal of Probiotics and Prebiotics www.newcenturyhealthpublishers.com/probiotics_and_prebiotics/index.php

Pediatrician’s and Gastroenterologist’s Guide to Using Probiotics

A booklet titled “Pediatrician’s and Gastroenterologist’s Guide to Using Probiotics” written by Jon Vanderhoof, M.D. and Eamonn Quigley, M.D. was published by Health
Point Press. For information, email: Booktalk@nullsbcglobal.net

Probiotics: What they are and what they can do for you

A brochure “Probiotics: What they are and what they can do for you” from the American Gastroenterological Association is now available. Brochure

Practice Guideline: Probiotics and Prebiotics

The World Gastroenterology Organization publishes “Practice Guideline: Probiotics and Prebiotics.Click here.

ISAPP holds 6th Annual meeting November 9-11, 2008

ISAPP holds 6th Annual meeting November 9-11, 2008. 100 delegates from 17 countries met in London Ontario, Canada to hear lectures and to discuss probiotic safety, refinement of the prebiotic concept in light of new scientific developments, probiotic/prebiotic/synbiotic efficacy, improving successful interactions between scientists and the media and regulatory hurdles to conducting probiotic research in the USA. Handouts

International Probiotics Association Announced Its Intent to Offer a Quality Seal for Probiotic

On March 28, 2008 the International Probiotics Association announced its intent to offer a quality seal for probiotic products that meet its standards for content and substantiation of health benefits; the seal will be available on products in 6-8 months.

http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/news/ng.asp?
n=84289-international-probiotics-association-probiotics

The Worldwide Probiotic Markets Report For Sale

Market report which analyzes the worldwide probiotic markets prepared by Global Industry Analysts Inc for sale (March 2008). Report

FAO Publishes Technical Report on Prebiotics

FAO publishes technical report on prebiotics addressing definitions, substantiation and characterization issues (January 29, 2008). Report

Two Consumer Friendly Books on Probiotics Published

Two consumer friendly books on probiotics published. The Power of Probiotics,
by Gary Elmer, Lynne McFarland and Marc McFarland, published by Haworth Press (www.haworthpress.com). This is a consumer’s guide to probiotics, but also discusses much of the data showing efficacy in human
studies, so it is a good resource probiotics researchers as well. Also out in 2007 is The Probiotics Revolution by Gary Huffnagle (Bantam Dell Publishing Group).

ISAPP Report on the Status of the Field

ISAPP report on the status of the field as it pertains to safety evaluation and interpretation of antibiotic resistance phenotypes and genotypes present in probiotics.Report from meeting held
December 13, 2007.