Resources

Cryoprotectants

The Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA) manages an International Processing Aids (IPA) Database that includes processing aids listed by technological function, many of which have multiple functions. “Microbial nutrients and microbial nutrient adjuncts” is one of the categories in the database and one of the key functions performed by processing aids in this category is as a cryoprotectant.

What are cryoprotectants?
Cryoprotectants are ingredients that are added before the freezing step of the manufacturing process of live microorganisms to protect them from damage during freezing and freeze-drying.

Processing aids that may be used as cryoprotectants include but are not limited to:

Acacia Gum

Dextrose monohydrate

Microcrystalline Cellulose

Sodium chloride

Acetic acid

Diammonium phosphate

Milk powder

Sodium citrate (Di- & Tri-)

Adenine

Dimethylpolysiloxane

Monoammonium phosphate

Sodium dodecyl sulfate

Alkoxylated fatty acid ester (vegetable)

Dipotassium hydrogen phosphate

Monopotassium Phosphate

Sodium formate

Ammonium chloride

Disodium inosinate

Monosodium glutamate L

Sodium hydroxide

Ammonium citrate, dibasic

Formic acid

Nitrogen, liquid

Sodium lauryl sulfate

Ammonium hydroxide

Fructose

Phosphoric acid

Sodium phosphate, monobasic

Ascorbic acid

Glutamic acid L

Polysorbate 80

Sorbitol

Betaine

Glycerol

Potassium citrate

Soy Lecithin

Calcium ascorbate

Glycine

Potassium hydroxide

Soy Peptone

Calcium carbonate

Inosine

Potato Starch

Starch

Calcium chloride

Inositol (vitamin B8)

Propyle gallate

Sucrose/Saccharose

Calcium phosphate dibasic

Lactose

Rice Flour

Trehalose

Casein enzymatic hydrolysate

Lysine

Rice protein hydrolysate

Trisodium citrate dihydrate

Casein hydrolysate

Magnesium sulfate

Silicon dioxide

Whey (powder)

Casein peptone

Maltitol

Skim milk powder

Whey protein

Citric acid

Maltodextrin

Sodium alginate

Yeast peptone

Corn starch

Maltose (hydrogenated)

Sodium ascorbate/Ascorbic acid

Yeast/Yeast extract

Corn syrup solids

Manganese chloride

Sodium aspartate/Aspartic acid

Zein from corn

Cysteine L

Manganese sulphate monohydrate

Sodium bicarbonate

Cysteine monohydrochloride L

Mannitol

Sodium caseinate

Why do foods contain cryoprotectants?
Cryoprotectants protect certain components of food, such as live microbial dietary ingredients, food cultures, and probiotics, so they are not killed in the process of making the finished food. There is little to no benefit of live microbial dietary ingredients in food if they are dead or destroyed.

Are cryoprotectants safe?
Yes. Cryoprotectants are regulated and approved for use by some government agencies around the world. They meet quality and safety standards recognized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA).

Lactobacillus Taxonomy

NEW name for some probiotics! What you need to know.

In April 2020, the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology (IJSEM) published a change in how Lactobacillus is classified. Lactobacillus is a very common and popular “friendly” bacteria used as a live microbial dietary ingredient (LMDI) and probiotic that is often found in fermented foods, like yogurt, and in dietary supplements. Prior to the IJSEM announcement, Lactobacillus was comprised of 261 species that have now been reclassified into 25 genera. When reading the name of a LMDI and probiotic, the genus comes first followed by species and strain. For example, Lactobacillus (genus) rhamnosus (species) GG(strain) is a popular strain of bacteria used in dietary supplements.

The choice to make this change was due to the genetic sequence data that suggested the genus Lactobacillus was too broad genetically. The change helps keep the LMDI and probiotic groups more accurate and organized. Only the genus name “Lactobacillus” has changed, not species or strains that are found in the LMDI and probiotic name.

What is changing? The microorganisms used as food cultures and probiotics in your food or dietary supplement will not change, but the label might. This is dependent on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) deciding to mandate changes.

Old NameNew NameAbbreviated Name
Lactobacillus caseiLacticaseibacillus caseiL. casei
Lactobacillus paracaseiLacticaseibacillus paracaseiL. paracasei
Lactobacillus rhamnosusLacticaseibacillus rhamnosusL. rhamnosus
Lactobacillus plantarumLactiplantibacillus plantarumL. plantarum
Lactobacillus brevisLevilactobacillus brevisL. brevis
Lactobacillus salivariusLigilactobacillus salivariusL. salivarius
Lactobacillus fermentumLimosilactobacillus fermentumL. fermentum
Lactobacillus reuteriLimosilactobacillus reuteriL. reuteri

What is not changing? The following Lactobacillus names will not change:

  • Lactobacillus acidophilus
  • Lactobacillus gasseri
  • Lactobacillus helveticus
  • Lactobacillus bulgaricus

More information:

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