International Probiotics Association

Guest Article

IPA in 2023: A significant strategic shift to embrace the biotic world

15-Dec-2023 By George Paraskevakos, MBA, IPA Executive Director

Life is like a box of chocolates, or is it? Not to challenge the expression made famous in the blockbuster hit “Forrest Gump” and reused often, but I feel once a plan is put in place with proper structure and frameworks to follow, you can have more visibility...

‘We are better together’: IPA broadens scope to cover Postbiotics, Prebiotics, Synbiotics

15-Feb-2023 By Stephen Daniells

The International Probiotics Association has announced it is expanding its scope to cover a broad range of ‘biotics’ in response to industry growth and market demand.

Year end review IPA 2022

Guest Article: The Year of Transition; securing the winds of change responsibly.

19-Dec-2022 By George Paraskevakos, MBA, IPA Executive Director

As an observer of the dietary supplement industry for close to 20 years, it always felt we are shifting to accommodate “Winds of Change". There are always new concepts and ingredients which capture our attention even if it is for a small moment in...

FREE Webinar: Postbiotics - New tools for microbiome modulation

30-Nov-2022 By Stephen Daniells

Postbiotics are establishing themselves as a strong weapon in the arsenal for modulating the microbiome. There is wholesale excitement about the science and potential health benefits for these preparations, and how these ingredients may offer more formulation...

IPA Chief: Global probiotics supplement market estimated to hit US$8.2 billion

10-Nov-2022 By Stephen Daniells

Growth in the probiotic supplements market has not returned to pre-pandemic levels, and interest in the beneficial microorganisms continues to gather pace, says the executive director of the International Probiotics Association.

IPA World Congress + Probiota: Nestle, Unilever & Abbott among first wave of speakers

01-Nov-2022 By Stephen Daniells

Today we can reveal the first wave of speakers confirmed for the IPA World Congress + Probiota, the must-attend conference bridging the business and science of microbiome modulation for human health.

‘The winds are changing’: Flow cytometry proponents talk up probiotic enumeration technology

10-Oct-2022 By Stephen Daniells

Consumers are increasingly aware of CFU on probiotic labels, but we may see more products using AFUs, a measure obtained using flow cytometry that is a fast, more accurate, and potentially cost-effective to traditional plate counts.

Can psychobiotics soothe a simmering post-happy world?

05-Apr-2022 By Will Chu

Gut-brain axis (GBX)-focused probiotic supplements have tripled to 200+ offerings since 2019, as promising science and self-medicating consumers seek solutions to a global mental health crisis afflicting a billion people, according to Lumina Intelligence.

Guest article

The Martian: Cultivating seeds of hope on Earth

15-Dec-2021 By George Paraskevakos, IPA Executive Director

I recently came across, what was dubbed a space movie and recalled one of the reviews which stood out the most; “The Martian is a film about human error, the will to survive, and the responsibility that we have as human beings, not just to the work that...

IPA Chief talks ongoing growth for probiotics and the online explosion

04-Nov-2021 By Stephen Daniells

“Growth for probiotics this past year on Amazon was 50%, and it’s pointing still north,” George Paraskevakos, Executive Director of the International Probiotics Association (IPA), tells NutraIngredients-USA.

Back to the Future and the reset called 2021

17-Dec-2020 By George Paraskevakos, IPA Executive Director

Contemplating the year that was and in the classical fashion of penning articles tied to movie titles, I must say, it was difficult to choose one which depicted the year IPA and the world of probiotics has gone through.

‘For those saying there are no clinical trials to support probiotics, have a seat’ – IPA Chief

27-Jul-2020 By Stephen Daniells

There are over 1,600 human clinical trials on probiotics listed in ClinicalTrials.gov and the WHO’s trial database, according to a new analysis that seeks to address the misconception that there is no human data around probiotics.

IPA World Congress + Probiota Americas 2020 canceled: We’ll be back in 2021

19-Jun-2020 By Stephen Daniells

In light of the ongoing uncertainty around the COVID-19 public health crisis, the IPA World Congress + Probiota Americas 2020 has been canceled, but will return June 16-18, 2021 in Washington, D.C.

IPA chief on manufacturing standards, the ODI list, global regs, and more

05-Oct-2017 By Stephen Daniells

As growth in probiotics continues to accelerate, the International Probiotics Association is ramping up its regulatory outreach efforts and working on ultimately producing a comprehensive quality guidebook for the probiotic industry, says IPA’s executive...

‘Promising’: Probiotic combination may shorten C. difficile infections

06-Sep-2017 By Stephen Daniells

A combination of four probiotic strains may shorten the duration of an infection with Clostridium difficile, says a new study that supports the role of probiotics to counter the most common cause of hospital-acquired infections.

Special edition: Pre & Probiotics

Effort underway to better fit probiotics into regulatory structure

21-Nov-2016 By Hank Schultz

Regulatory definitions remain hazy for probiotics and prebiotics, but efforts are underway to further nail down where these ingredients fit within the overall structure that governs dietary supplements.

DuPont: We want to see CFUs included for probiotic labeling

18-Oct-2016 By Stephen Daniells

The Food and Drug Administration should include colony forming units or CFUs for probiotic labeling, says Amy Smith from DuPont, with a citizen’s petition a possible avenue for the change.

Latest studies suggest probiotics may reverse childhood malnutrition

01-Mar-2016 By Adi Menayang

As more studies suggesting the benefits and safety of probiotics emerge, the executive director of the International Probiotics Association foresees probiotics to play a larger role against global health crises.

IPA – ANVISA workshop to explore probiotic regulations & industry in Brazil

23-Nov-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

Delegates from the International Probiotics Association and the Brazilian regulatory authorities ANVISA will discuss the science and regulatory landscape for probiotics at an upcoming workshop.

Industry welcomes NCCAM five-year plan

08-Feb-2011 By Shane Starling

Industry is singing the praises of a “pragmatic” National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) five-year plan that it says has responded to its concerns, along with those of consumers and academics, about CAM science and its translation...

Probiotics are unfamiliar to most Americans, finds survey

22-Sep-2008 By Lorraine Heller

A survey conducted last month has found that the vast majority of Americans know nothing about probiotics, suggesting more education efforts could help boost an industry still in its infancy.