We at TAP wanted to tackle this troubling question head on because our definitive answer is NO, absolutely not. We have noticed new deceptive advertisements from several well-known probiotic companies (fyi: none of these companies actually make their probiotics in house, they just market them).
First, when manufacturers talk about shelf-stable, they’re talking about ideal laboratory conditions where the temperature range is between 68-80 degrees Fahrenheit. What they don’t tell you is that virtually all warehouses in the USA, whether they are the US Post Office or US Parcel Post or FedEx or distributor or retail store warehouses are not even air-conditioned, let alone refrigerated!
During 9-10 months of the year, the unrefrigerated products in distribution can be exposed to temperatures ranging from 100-140 degrees Fahrenheit for days, weeks, and sometimes even months before you purchase it! Because the products are not sold refrigerated the consumer will leave it in the car, or the trunk, or on a shelf in the sun, further killing the bacteria until there’s virtually none still-living!
Even more disturbing is that the products that are marketed as shelf-stable do not have clear cut and easy to understand potency guarantees for each strain of probiotic bacteria. Virtually all of the products on the shelf conviently omit the mention of the strain name, listing only genus and species. This practice further confuses the consumer as to what they are actually buying.
One of the latest tricks is by a probiotic company that is claiming the product will be stable when you take it. But, what does stable mean? In our opinion, legally and ethically it means nothing. They further want to confuse the consumer by saying that moisture is the greatest enemy to probiotic bacteria viability. Yes, moisture is more damaging than heat, but if the product is in a glass bottle with a tin lid, it is impervious to moisture changes when it is in a refrigerator. Plus, the colder the storage temperature is, the more arrested the growth cycle of the bacteria is, leading to better results for you the consumer. This is because the bottle and capsule are a close-ended system, no food comes in and no waste goes out, but if you trigger growth in this environment by exposing the bottle to heat or moisture, the probiotics can die within 8 hours, depending on the strain. So, that’s why it’s important to buy a refrigerated probiotic in a brown glass bottle with a tin lid. We’re not talking about freezing the product, either, just making sure that you buy a refrigerated brand, like Natren Probiotics.
We welcome your questions if you see other confusing or misleading ads out there… we’ll decipher any issues you have. There are no shelf-stable probiotics, it’s an oxy-moron!!! The next time you see one of these ads, you’ll know what’s really up: false marketing and consumer confusion.
So, since there is no such thing as a shelf-stable ProB, what do you suggest to those people who travel 4-5 days per week on business……when access to refrigeration is less than convenient? Are we not better off at least trying the shelf-stable product, versus only taking Natren’s on the weekend?
Hi Steven–
Sorry for the delayed response! We at TAP are asked this question often, and we are even thinking about writing a blog post on it. First of all, the idea of a shelf-stable probiotic is an oxy-moron– there is absolutely no such thing. If they tell you the probiotics are alive, they’re not taking into consideration the exposure to excess heat during transportation and storage before it even hits the store shelf. Nine months out of the year the products are stored in warehouses that are not even air-conditioned, usually somewhere in Arizona, and the temperatures on UPS, FEDEX, and USPS trucks can reach up to 140 degrees on hot days very quickly. In fact, the AAA has noted that if the temperature outside is 80 degrees, the temperature inside a car can reach 120 degrees within 20 minutes. Probiotics are living organisms, and as such are very difficult to keep alive without the right conditions. The so-called shelf-stable probiotics are tested in laboratory conditions, where the temperature never exceeds 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Nor are they exposed to mishandling by delivery people, retail store clerks, and the consumers themselves who treat them as non-perishable because it’s not labeled as perishable (which it is).
Here is our recommendation if you travel a lot and wish to take your Natren probiotics with you. When I travel, for example, I pack my Healthy Trinity in a Ziploc plastic freezer bag, and keep them at the bottom of my purse, so they are at least at room temperature. They are always with me, and they are never exposed to high heat or cold or direct sunlight or moisture (the most damaging). If you have a mini-bar/fridge at your hotel, you can keep your probiotics there, or anywhere else in your hotel room that is at least room temperature and not exposed to direct sunlight (a good spot is right next to the a/c). When traveling, make sure to use these tips, and your Healthy Trinity will be just fine. The Healthy Trinity is the most potent and stable probiotic on the market, and since Natren offers a living-organisms guarantee that is certified by a third-party agency, they give the instructions that best suit the product. WARNING: Be wary of internet sites that sell pirated bottles of Healthy Trinity and claim it does not need refrigeration during shipment– We have never made such a claim nor authorize anyone else to make this claim. Natren’s products are always shipped in thermally-controlled boxes with dry ice and blue ice, so the product is cool to the touch when it arrives at your door. We do not guarantee any of our products that are sold through internet sites, except for http://www.natren.com. I hope this answers your question, and look for a related blog post coming soon!
Thanks again,
Sincerely,
The TAP team
Thats nice to finally locate a web site where the blogger knows really well about his subject.
A mate urged me to check out this page, nice post, interesting read… keep up the good work!
Both products (shelf stable or not) that you buy in a health food store are not shipped on refrigerated trucks. 60-80 degrees is the typical temperature of a store or your house. All products are going to loose potency in transit even when you buy from an online retailer that ships with an ice pack. If you are traveling and have a hotel room you should leave them in the room where the temperature is consistently stable. People should be making their probiotics themselves and they can easily search online for recipes. What you should be looking for in a company if you buy is whether it’s Good Manufacturing Practices Certified or at least current with Good Manufacturing Practices. NPA or NSF are two independent third party organizations that do GMP certification which means they audit a company from it raw materials to finished goods to make sure they meeting these standards of excellence. Nutrition Now is one brand that is GMP certified and they make a very good shelf stable probiotic called PB8. Are Natren products GMP certified? The bottom line is if you feel a difference from either one whether it’s store bought or homemade than it shows it’s working regardless if it’s shelf stable or requires refrigeration.