USA – Despite interest from consumers and the potential to offer health benefits, probiotic products are losing out due to a lack of strict guidelines.

That is the finding of research by the International Food Information Service, which said: “The probiotics industry must develop a proactive policy in order to bolster consumer confidence in commercial probiotic products.” Furthermore, it said, many publications suggest that commercial probiotic products do not comply with label claims.

Nonetheless, probiotics show much promise as a health-promoting addition to food, or as a basis for dietary supplements, said the report.