Global Probiotics Council

The Global Probiotic Council

The Global Probiotics Council (GPC) was established in 2004 through a collaborative arrangement between DANONE and YAKULT HONSHA CO., LTD. The role of the GPC is to promote and/or advance probiotics in the world, through means such as:

  1. Raising awareness of probiotics and their health benefits through science-based education and dissemination of information to health care professionals and the public;
  2. Communicating with government bodies, and other relevant interest groups; and
  3. Building relationships with leading researchers and research institutions and supporting collaborative research in the area of probiotics and intestinal microbiota.

GPC activities began with the establishment of a Probiotics Scientific Board in the United States. The Young Investigator Grant for Probiotics Research program was established to meet these goals by contributing to the advancement of probiotics study in the United States.

DANONE

DANONE is the world’s leading producer of yogurt products. These products are sold under the DANNON and DANONE brand names. Since its foundation, DANONE has built its business on product offerings which combine health benefits and taste. Danone Nutricia Research is the organization responsible for all DANONE R&I activities (1500 employees worldwide). Its mission is to formulate DANONE products with health benefits based on scientific evidence. It also studies the effects of food on health and aims to continuously improve the nutritional profile of DANONE products worldwide. Probiotic research is a key expertise of Danone Nutricia Research. Over the past 90 years, DANONE has amassed a collection of approximately 4,000 lactic bacteria strains or “cultures”. In addition to taste and texture, some of these cultures provide probiotic health properties. Such is the case of Bifidobacterium animalis DN 173 010, used to produce Activia, and Lactobacillus casei DN 114 001, used to produce DanActive. Because this culture collection holds considerable potential for product innovation, Danone Nutricia Research using state-of-the-art technologies to select the probiotic bacteria of the future is carefully studying it.

YAKULT HONSHA CO., LTD.

From our earliest research on lactobacilli, through the development of our food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical businesses, Yakult has retained its commitment to improving human health. Today our responsibilities extend beyond basic health to embrace global social and environmental challenges. Yakult’s Central Institute works to elucidate the relationship between human health and intestinal microbiota, focusing on basic research into the structures and functions of microbiota. ‘YIF-SCAN’, Yakult’s state-of-the-art intestinal microbiota analysis system, selectively quantifies bacteria based on the unique gene sequences of individual microbiota with high quantitative performance and wide dynamic range. Synbiotic treatments (combining probiotics and prebiotics) have already been shown to promote the recovery of immune functions, prevent septic complications, promote absorption and digestion, improve nutritional status, and enhance recuperative powers by improving the balance of the microbiota. Yakult’s network extends through Asia, Oceania, the Americas and Europe and our products are consumed in 40 countries. Daily global consumption of Yakult dairy products numbered 39 million. We will continue to strive to deepen our understanding of lactobacilli and support good health for all. Yakult U.S.A. Inc., the subsidiary of YAKULT HONSHA CO., LTD., is stationed in Southern California, Fountain Valley.