{"id":1416,"date":"2025-06-23T10:00:48","date_gmt":"2025-06-23T09:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/inform-innovation-hub\/?p=1416"},"modified":"2025-09-01T12:26:28","modified_gmt":"2025-09-01T11:26:28","slug":"uk-probiotics-guide-noted-in-food-standards-agency-annual-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/inform-innovation-hub\/uk-probiotics-guide-noted-in-food-standards-agency-annual-report\/","title":{"rendered":"UK Probiotics Guide noted in Food Standards Agency Annual Report"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/inform-innovation-hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/297\/2025\/06\/FSA.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-1419 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/inform-innovation-hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/297\/2025\/06\/FSA-1024x535.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"334\" srcset=\"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/inform-innovation-hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/297\/2025\/06\/FSA-1024x535.png 1024w, https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/inform-innovation-hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/297\/2025\/06\/FSA-479x250.png 479w, https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/inform-innovation-hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/297\/2025\/06\/FSA-768x401.png 768w, https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/inform-innovation-hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/297\/2025\/06\/FSA-1536x802.png 1536w, https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/inform-innovation-hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/297\/2025\/06\/FSA.png 1759w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\ud83e\uddec Probiotic Guide: INFORM Hub Featured in FSA Annual Science Update<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In the FSA\u2019s recent Annual Science Update, the UK Probiotic Guide was highlighted as a key resource for bridging the gap between scientific evidence and public understanding, providing an excellent model for transparent evidence reporting\u2014a testament to its value in supporting informed decisions.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\ud83d\udd0d What Is the UK Guide to Probiotic Products?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Launched as the first fully independent, science-led resource of its kind in the UK, this Guide was developed collaboratively by the INFORM Hub, University of Reading, University of Leeds, AEProbio, and a committee of probiotic experts.<\/p>\n<p>It offers:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Clear scientific evidence<\/strong>: Detailing strains, doses, and clinical applications.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Unbiased guidance<\/strong>: Free from industry sponsorship or influence.<\/li>\n<li><strong>User-focused design<\/strong>: Tailored for both healthcare professionals and consumers.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Transparency and rigour<\/strong>: Systematically reviewing peer-reviewed studies and updating annually.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\ud83d\udee0\ufe0f Why It Matters<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Cutting through marketing noise<\/strong><br \/>\nProbiotic products often come with broad or vague claims. \u00a0This Guide ensures users choose products backed by solid clinical evidence, helping to avoid ineffective or misleading supplements.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Improving public and professional literacy<\/strong><br \/>\nMany practitioners and consumers struggle to identify which strains are beneficial for specific conditions. \u00a0The Guide supports better-informed debates and prescribing.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Strengthening regulatory insights<\/strong><br \/>\nBy systematically cataloguing claims, strains, and evidence levels, it supports clearer regulatory distinctions between authorised health claims and marketing language.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>\ud83e\ude7a How to Use the Guide<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>For healthcare professionals<\/strong>: Evidence tables indicate which strain-dose combinations are linked to outcomes like antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, IBS symptom reduction, and more\u2014ideal for clinical decision support.<\/li>\n<li><strong>For consumers<\/strong>: A transparent, easy-to-navigate interface lets users verify a product\u2019s scientific backing, rather than relying on packaging claims.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Formats available<\/strong>: Includes an interactive website, mobile apps (Android &amp; iOS), and downloadable PDFs for offline use<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\ud83d\udccc INFORM Hub\u2019s Ongoing Role<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Guide aligns perfectly with INFORM\u2019s aims to improve recovery from exercise, mental stress or physical illness through the consumption of prebiotics, probiotics and plant stanols. \u00a0Its independent nature\u2014without conflicts of interest\u2014demonstrates our commitment to transparency and scientific integrity. \u00a0And with annual updates, it remains current and responsive to research and regulatory changes.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2705 What Next?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Featuring in the FSA\u2019s Annual Science Update underlines the importance and relevance of the UK Guide to Probiotic Products.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.food.gov.uk\/board-papers\/annual-science-update-from-fsas-chief-scientific-adviser-0#conclusions\">Read the Annual Science Update<\/a><\/strong> from FSA\u2019s Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Robin May. (see paragraph 5.8d for the INFORM Hub reference)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/inform-innovation-hub\/uk-probiotic-guide\/\">Access, read, and share the Guide<\/a><\/strong> with clinical colleagues, dietitians, or patients.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Integrate it into training modules or decision aids<\/strong> in practice.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\ud83e\uddec Probiotic Guide: INFORM Hub Featured in FSA Annual Science Update In the FSA\u2019s recent Annual Science Update, the UK Probiotic Guide was highlighted as a key resource for bridging&#8230;<a class=\"read-more\" href=\"&#104;&#116;&#116;&#112;&#115;&#58;&#47;&#47;&#114;&#101;&#115;&#101;&#97;&#114;&#99;&#104;&#46;&#114;&#101;&#97;&#100;&#105;&#110;&#103;&#46;&#97;&#99;&#46;&#117;&#107;&#47;&#105;&#110;&#102;&#111;&#114;&#109;&#45;&#105;&#110;&#110;&#111;&#118;&#97;&#116;&#105;&#111;&#110;&#45;&#104;&#117;&#98;&#47;&#117;&#107;&#45;&#112;&#114;&#111;&#98;&#105;&#111;&#116;&#105;&#99;&#115;&#45;&#103;&#117;&#105;&#100;&#101;&#45;&#110;&#111;&#116;&#101;&#100;&#45;&#105;&#110;&#45;&#102;&#111;&#111;&#100;&#45;&#115;&#116;&#97;&#110;&#100;&#97;&#114;&#100;&#115;&#45;&#97;&#103;&#101;&#110;&#99;&#121;&#45;&#97;&#110;&#110;&#117;&#97;&#108;&#45;&#114;&#101;&#112;&#111;&#114;&#116;&#47;\">Read More ><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":711,"featured_media":1419,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"__cvm_playback_settings":[],"__cvm_video_id":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"coauthors":[13],"class_list":["post-1416","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/inform-innovation-hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/297\/2025\/06\/FSA.png","author_info":{"display_name":"Fiona Lee","author_link":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/inform-innovation-hub\/author\/jk903657reading-ac-uk\/"},"cc_featured_image_caption":{"caption_text":"","source_text":"","source_url":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/inform-innovation-hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1416","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/inform-innovation-hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/inform-innovation-hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/inform-innovation-hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/711"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/inform-innovation-hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1416"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/inform-innovation-hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1416\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1438,"href":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/inform-innovation-hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1416\/revisions\/1438"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/inform-innovation-hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1419"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/inform-innovation-hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1416"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/inform-innovation-hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1416"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/inform-innovation-hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1416"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/inform-innovation-hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=1416"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}