How are Foods with added Probiotic Ingredients Defined under FSSAI? 

Foods with added Probiotic ingredients are defined as “Probiotic Foods” under FSSAI in India. 

• As per the FSSAI regulations, probiotic foods are “foods containing live organisms which are viable and in sufficient numbers and which alter the microflora of the host in a beneficial manner and thus confer health benefits on the host.”  
• Probiotic foods can include various food products, such as dairy products(for example probiotic dahi or probiotic curd), plant probiotics, ayurvedic probiotics, liquid probiotics, non-dairy beverages, bakery products, and dietary supplements, that contain specific strains of beneficial microorganisms such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, among others.  
• These products must meet specific safety, purity, and efficacy standards before being marketed as probiotic foods in India. 
• Food with added probiotics must contain a minimum of 108 Colony Forming Units (CFU) per gram. As long as a lower feasible amount is defined and supported by studies showing health benefits, it must first be approved by the Food Authority. 
• The advertisement, labelling and presentation of the food containing probiotics must not have claims that the probiotic food can prevent, cure or treat human disease or insinuate such claims.  
• Every package of food with added probiotics must contain the following: 

1. The words ‘PROBIOTIC FOOD’, 
2. If probiotics are one of the ingredients, the product must specify the genus, species and strain of the bacterial culture used. The culture collection number must be specified within parentheses, 
3. The probable count of viable numbers towards the end of the product’s shelf life, 
4. The serving size recommended for consumption that delivers the viable dose of the probiotics per the health claims, storage conditions, and the ‘BEST USE’ after opening the package, 
5. A warning ‘NOT FOR MEDICINAL USE’, and 
6. Any other precautions to be taken while consuming the product, side effects, possible contraindications and medicine-product interactions [1]. 

The Food Research Lab is a FSSAI food license consultant, who helps to obtain FSSAI certification for food, beverages and nutraceuticals. Our team ensures the product meets the regulatory standards before being marketed, making them successful in the long run.