Yes. Enhancing products with probiotics—which are helpful bacteria with the potential to improve intestinal health and support a healthy immune system—is a great way for dairy processors to add value. Research suggests that delicious dairy and dairy-based products are an excellent vehicle for delivering probiotics. Dairy Management Inc.^TM (DMI) is supporting continuing research in this area.

Probiotics and their health benefits represent a growing trend in foods and beverages, although probiotics have an association with dairy products such as kefir and yogurt that dates back centuries. Probiotics have been shown to lower the pH of the intestinal tract so that pathogenic bacteria cannot survive. Probiotics also are associated with preventing diarrhea, relieving constipation, building immunity, preventing skin allergy and improving women’s urinary and reproductive health.