Tag: Bacterial viability

According to research from the National Institutes of Health, many expired probiotic products still contain some live bacteria, but the total count is often well below the amount needed for health benefits. This raises a critical question for consumers: do out of date probiotics still work as intended, or are you wasting your money?

According to a 2021 review, lower temperatures like refrigeration have been shown to be better for the survival of certain probiotic strains, but not all. The question of whether it is better for a probiotic to be refrigerated depends entirely on the specific product, its formulation, and manufacturing process, not a universal rule.

Most probiotic products have a guaranteed shelf life of 6 months to 2 years, but their actual viability is influenced by many factors. Understanding how long do probiotic bacteria last is key to ensuring you get the intended health benefits from your supplements or fermented foods. This longevity is not a one-size-fits-all metric and depends heavily on the specific strain and handling.