Title: Behind the label: Actimel
Headings: Behind the label: Actimel
Behind the label: Actimel
Pat Thomas
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Content: and when they flourish they also help to ferment organic acids into glucose, lower blood cholesterol, synthesise vitamins, break down the enzymes, proteins and fibres in food and boost the immune system. There is plenty of evidence to show that eating plain live yoghurt – which contains beneficial live organisms known as probiotics – is a healthful habit that can improve immune system function. The evidence for quasi-pharmaceutical products such as Actimel – marketed as ‘functional foods’ – is less clear. A recent study at Reading University found that half the probiotic drinks, yoghurts and supplements tested did not meet six basic criteria for good quality products: namely that they should be safe for human consumption; alive and able to survive gastric juices in order to reach the gut in sufficient numbers to have an effect; have clinically proven health benefits demonstrated by scientific trials; have their contents clearly defined; be clearly labelled; and be ‘shelf-stable’ – guaranteed to deliver benefits up until expiry date.