DuPont assures customers its probiotics are gluten-free

DUPONT Nutrition & Health declares that its probiotic range is produced from raw materials that do not contain gluten.

The company made the announcement after Columbia University released a study on 22 popular probiotic supplements, half of which came out as containing detectable levels of gluten. Eight of the supplements tested were also being marketed as “gluten-free”.

Gluten which refers to proteins found in wheat, rye, barley and triticale, can cause severe digestive comfort in people suffering from celiac disease or wheat allergies, and could damage their small intestine over time.

“As a leading global supplier of probiotics, we understand that many consumers with celiac disease rely on probiotic supplements to strengthen their digestive health,” said Scott Bush, global probiotics business leader for DuPont Nutrition & Health. “For this reason, we monitor our suppliers very closely to ensure they meet our demand for non-gluten raw materials, including the fermentation media used in probiotic production.”

Allergen management procedures are followed at the company’s probiotic production facilities that also handle gluten-containing products. These procedures prevent contamination and exclude other allergens, such as dairy and soy, from the probiotic range.

“We realize that the Columbia University findings are a cause for concern among our customers and consumers. By eliminating gluten-containing raw materials in probiotic production, DuPont wishes to allay these concerns,” Mr Bush said.

DuPont^™ Danisco^® offers two ranges of proven probiotic cultures, HOWARU^® Premium Probiotics and FloraFIT^® Probiotics for finished formats and unique, customized formulations.  These probiotic strains are scientifically demonstrated to help keep the digestive system running smoothly and to support the immune and cardiovascular systems.