Dive Brief:
- GanedanBC30 is the first probiotic strain to earn Non-GMO project verification, according to a company statement.
- “Becoming Non-GMO Project Verified is yet another example of our dedication to the probiotic market, our partners and their customers," Mike Bush, president of Ganeden and executive board president of the International Probiotics Association, said in the statement.
- In addition to the Non-GMO certification, GanedenBC30 has also been certified kosher, halal, gluten free, and allergen free, and has received Generally Recognized as Safe status from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Dive Insight:
With consumers paying more attention to genetically modified organisms in food products, it makes sense that manufacturers are striving to add the Verified Non-GMO seal to their packaging. According to Packaged Facts, non-GMO products had a global retail value of $550 billion in 2014, with $200 billion of those happening in the United States. The study estimated about 2,000 new non-GMO product launches in the United States per year.
Probiotics are bacteria that live in digestive systems, so at first blush, it seems strange to think that they need to be non-GMO verified. This is especially considering that many companies put non-GMO labels on fruits and vegetables that have no GMO varieties.
However, probiotic strains are grown using different nutrient bases, so those substances may have GMOs in them. Bloggers have been sounding the alarm about probiotics grown using GMOs, saying that they may not be completely safe.
Probiotics are surging in popularity, appearing in places ranging from yogurt to hot tea to brownies to pet food. Ganedin has said that the BC30 strain supports the body's utilization of protein and enhances vitamin and mineral absorption, so there may be new applications for it in the sports nutrition category. And for that sector's health-conscious consumers, a non-GMO certification could be a huge selling point.