Products such as long-life probiotic yoghurt pose a challenge for the packaging process. SIG and AnaBio Technologies are now launching probiotic drinks in aspetic carton packs and stand-up pouches that can be kept for longer periods without refrigeration.
Until now, it was not possible to offer probiotic drinks in aseptic packaging, as the probiotics could not survive the heat treatment required during processing. Probiotics could also become susceptible during storage, which meant that their use was limited to chilled drinks with a short shelf life.
The encapsulation technology from AnaBio combined with the product-friendly aseptic filling technology from SIG now makes it possible for food and beverage manufacturers, to pack probiotic drinks with probiotic cultures in aseptic carton packs and spouted pouches, so that they can be stored at room temperature for long periods without refrigeration. This offers consumers a completely new product range that fulfils the need for healthy, tasty and nutritious probiotic drinks in sustainable packaging.
„Our innovative, patented encapsulation technology coats probiotic cells, such as Lactobacillus strains, with a protective layer. This enables the strains to withstand the high temperatures during product preparation and production. When the probiotic product is consumed, the protective layer is naturally dissolved by digestive enzymes, allowing the probiotic to colonise the small intestine and deliver its health benefits exactly where the body needs them. Together with SIG's team of experts, we are not only able to offer consumers probiotic products with unique health benefits, but also extend the shelf life of the products. This is a big step forward in the probiotic beverage sector.“
Sinéad Bleiel, founder of AnaBio Technologies
SIG has applied specific filling and processing parameters that guarantee Homogeneous distribution of the probiotic cells in each individual package guaranteed. This ensures safe and high-quality filling of probiotic cultures in aseptic packaging solutions from SIG.
„With this innovation and the creation of a new product category, SIG and AnaBio offer beverage and food manufacturers a breakthrough solution to overcome the current limitations of fresh probiotic beverages. Our innovation also helps to reduce distribution costs as no refrigeration is required. Similarly, the innovation ensures a longer shelf life, a wider range and less food waste - for both retailers and consumers. The aseptic probiotic yoghurt drinks are a good example of our commitment to continuously innovate to meet the rapidly changing needs of consumers, while offering high product quality and longer shelf life in sustainable packaging. Our aseptic carton packs are proven to be one of the most sustainable packaging solutions* on the market.“
Christoph Wegener, Chief Markets Officer at SIG
The opportunities arising from this innovation and partnership are many and varied: they range from the creation of new Product segments in growth markets, The range of products ranges from the use of sustainable packaging solutions where nutrient-rich products are urgently needed to the combination of sustainable packaging solutions with healthy probiotic concepts that were previously only available in chiller cabinets.
Source: SIG
