This development introduces a brand new product category – probiotic beverages packaged in aseptic carton packs and spouted pouches. These innovative containers allow for shelf-stable storage without the need for refrigeration, enabling prolonged storage periods.
Prior to this breakthrough, it was not possible to incorporate probiotics into aseptic beverage packaging due to their vulnerability to common heat treatments used in processing.
In addition, probiotics have typically been unstable during storage, limiting their use to refrigerated beverages with shorter shelf lives.
By combining AnaBio’s encapsulation technology with SIG’s gentle aseptic filling technology, these limitations are overcome. This partnership now allows food and beverage companies to produce probiotic beverages containing live probiotics that can be packed in carton packs and spouted pouches and kept at room temperature for extended periods without refrigeration.
According to Sinéad Bleiel, founder of AnaBio Technologies, “Our innovative patented ‘encapsulation’ technology surrounds probiotic cells, such as Lactobacillus strains, with a protective layer. This enables the strains to withstand high temperatures during processing. When the probiotic product is consumed, the coating is naturally broken down by digestive enzymes, releasing the probiotics to colonize the small intestine and deliver their health benefits.”
Christoph Wegener, Chief Markets Officer at SIG, further added, “With the introduction of this new product category, both SIG and AnaBio are providing beverage and food manufacturers with a groundbreaking solution to overcome the current restrictions of fresh probiotic beverages. Our innovation offers numerous advantages, including lower distribution costs as refrigeration is no longer necessary, longer shelf life, increased market reach, and reduced food wastage for retailers and consumers alike.”