Probiotics is defined as cultures of live microorganisms that, when ingested in sufficient amounts, confer beneficial health effects on a host. For this reason, food products containing probiotics typically are classified as a subset of functional foods, a category that claims to have a positive effect on health.
It is safe to say that consistent quality research is the prime driver of growth in the probiotics industry. In addition to exploring other aspects of these microorganisms, the focus of the science of probiotics is on identifying and isolating specific probiotic strains, and exploring the mechanisms through which each strain protects the host. Ongoing research shows that probiotics differ in terms of their characteristics, and the nature of the associated health benefits, including the finding that some beneficial effects may be strain-specific.
This BCC study presents a comprehensive picture of recent trends in the U.S. probiotics industry through 2004 and develops market projections for 2005 through 2010. The report covers probiotics as ingredients as well as probiotic applications for supplements and foods. It identifies a number of factors that have shaped historic trends in sales revenues and those that are projected to contribute to future trends in the sales of probiotics. The central roles of scientific research, consumer awareness and government regulatory provisions are presented and discussed in detail.
The report contains:
- A detailed examination of the applications for probiotics in supplements and food products
- Recent historical trends in U.S. sales of probiotics
- Details of the structure, technologies and relevant government regulatory provisions that govern activities in the industry
- Current trends in domestic probiotic sales compared to those in Canada, the European Union and Japan
- Market forecasts through 2010
- Profiles of the major probiotics companies from the U.S., Canada, the European Union and Japan.
This study is the result of extensive research covering materials from diverse sources. BCC surveyed numerous scientific and industry publications on probiotics to develop a qualitative and quantitative analytical framework for the findings documented in this report. Communications with various government and industry experts provided supplemental information on various aspects of the study. Data on international trade were obtained from U.S. government sources.
Rachel Agheyisi works as a freelance research analyst for BCC, Inc. Her professional experience includes more than 15 years in academia and consulting. She holds a Ph.D. in Economics from McMaster University in Canada.
Report Code: FOD035A, Published: July 2005, Analyst: Rachel Agheyisi
