The company, which partnered with dispensing technology specialist Liquid Health Labs to bring the concept to market, is introducing a new ready-to-drink beverage at the IFT show this week.
Delivering probiotic ingredients via packaging-based dispensing methods has crept into the market over the past few years as a way to differentiate products and protect the ingredients.
Another probiotic dispensing concept that has already gathered significant interest is the probiotic straw, which is marketed by companies such as BioGaia, Danisco, Tetra Pak and Unistraw.
Immunity at the snap of a cap
Ganeden’s new product, branded ‘Fresh Healthy Stuff’ (FHS), stores a combination of ingredients in the bottle cap using Liquid Health Lab’s PowerCap technology. These include GanedenBC30 probiotics, antioxidants from fruit concentrates, vitamins, and prebiotic fiber.
At the press of a button, the ingredients are released into 12 ounces of purified water. The “probiotic-enhanced flavored drink” is said to support healthy digestive and immune functions. It is available for national distribution at a retail price of less than $2.
"This new probiotic blend will answer the demands of both the probiotics and beverage industries by creating a shelf stable probiotic beverage that does not require refrigeration," said Ganeden Biotech CEO Andrew Lefkowitz.
Other caps
The probiotic cap is a concept that has also been picked up by the Swedish ingredient firm BioGaia.
Last year, BioGaia signed a deal with a leading cap maker, Bericap, to bring its Life Top ingredient-delivering cap to market.
The company, which had been developing the cap for many years, said it can store ingredients such as probiotics, antioxidants, and flavors. These are introduced into a beverage at the point of consumption to protect them from humidity and light, and to boost efficaciousness and shelf life.
Probiotic straws
Probiotic straws follow a similar concept. They provide a clinical dose to a beverage at the point of consumption and, in theory, preserve the integrity of the ‘dormant strains’ that only become active when liquid is introduced to the straw.
Benefits include dose accuracy and extended shelf-life.