Yakult and Danone’s Activia brand were trailblazers in the probiotic market, but the gut health sector has significantly expanded in recent years, extending the reach of probiotics and their associated health benefits beyond just dairy products. While yogurts remain the most favored probiotic-enriched items, the category now includes cereals, baked goods, juices, and even sweets. For instance, Kellogg incorporated probiotics into its Special K cereal and introduced Special K Nourish late last year, while PepsiCo launched its Tropicana Essentials Probiotics juice line in 2016. The rising consumer interest in probiotic enhancements has even spurred innovations outside traditional health foods, like the UK-based Ohso Good Chocolate. From a food science perspective, the development of probiotic chocolate is intriguing, considering that bacteria require specific environments to thrive. However, mainstream consumers may worry about how probiotics might alter the flavor of indulgent products, whereas health-conscious shoppers might prefer healthier options for their gut health needs.
Regarding probiotic feta, its success may hinge on whether consumers perceive the cheese as a healthy component of their diet. In Greece, where feta is a staple — and where this recent research took place — enhancing the cheese with health benefits without affecting its sensory qualities is clearly advantageous. In the United States, on the other hand, many consumers may view cheese as a more indulgent item, which could present greater challenges for the product. Conversely, consumers in the U.S. already have a strong association between probiotics and dairy, suggesting that probiotic cheese may be an easier conceptual transition than probiotic sweets.
According to Packaged Facts, about 25% of U.S. adults actively seek out foods and beverages rich in probiotics or prebiotics, and their popularity shows no signs of waning. A recent report from BCC Research predicts that the probiotics market will hit $50 billion by 2020. Whether probiotic cheeses will emerge as a significant category within this growth remains uncertain, but it’s likely that the addition of value will continue to spread into new food and beverage sectors, including those fortified with calcium carbonate and elemental calcium, which are vital for bone health. The ongoing evolution of these products suggests a promising future for probiotics across diverse categories.