Beverage Industry logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Beverage Industry logo
  • NEWS
    • R&D News
    • Supplier News
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products
    • Reader's Choice Poll
  • CATEGORIES
    • Alternative Drinks
    • Beer
    • Bottled Water
    • Cannabis Beverages
    • Carbonated Soft Drinks
    • Energy Drinks & Shots
    • Juice & Juice Drinks
    • Plant-Based Beverages
    • Sports Drinks
    • Tea and Coffee
    • Wine & Spirits
  • R&D
    • Beverage R&D Features
    • Ingredient Spotlight
  • PACKAGING
    • New Packages
    • Packaging Equipment
    • Packaging Material
  • OPERATIONS
    • Distribution
    • Plant Focus
  • TOP LISTS
    • Beer Market Report
    • Executive of the Year
    • State of the Beverage Industry
    • Top 100 Beverage Companies
    • Truck Report
    • Wholesaler of the Year
  • MEDIA
    • eBook
    • Podcast
    • Polls
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • DIRECTORIES
    • Annual Manual
    • Contract Packaging Guide
    • Take a Tour
  • MORE
    • Classifieds
    • Channel Strategies
    • eNewsletters
    • Events
      • Membrane Technology Forum
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
    • Market Insights
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Store
    • White Papers
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • Archived Issues
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
R&D FeaturesAlternative Drinks

R&D Feature

Biotic ingredients help beverage-makers deliver immune-supportive benefits

Immune health ingredients application spans across variety of beverages

By Lauren Sabetta, Managing Editor
Cargill’s EpiCor postbiotic

Cargill’s EpiCor postbiotic supports year-round and seasonal nasal health, immune defenses to face daily challenges, and healthy gut function, it says.

Image courtesy of Cargill

July 26, 2022

As the earliest known reference to immunity was during the plague of Athens in 430 BC, Athenian general and historian Thucydides noted that people who had recovered from a previous bout of the disease could nurse the sick without contracting the illness a second time. Centuries later, as immunity is an omnipresent health need, experts note that within the beverage space, today’s consumers are seeking products that deliver immune-supportive benefits. 

“People have always been interested in improving their immunity,” says John Quilter, vice president of global portfolio at Kerry’s ProActive Health, Beloit, Wis. “However, in recent years consumers have become increasingly proactive when it comes to their health generally, and actively interested in nutrition as a means to support their natural defenses.”

Moreover, as the coronavirus pandemic has “unsurprisingly” energized the immunity trend, Quilter notes that, one of the findings of Kerry’s 2021 global consumer survey was the scale of COVID’s impact on demand — not just for immune health products, but for functional products overall. 

“More than two in five (42%) of respondents globally had increased their purchases of functional or fortified foods and beverages,” Quilter says.

Jenna Nelson, EpiCor channel lead for functional food and beverage at Minneapolis-based Cargill, notes that even before COVID-19 struck, interest in immune support was on the rise. 

“The last two-plus years have only amplified the trend, demonstrating the importance of a healthy immune system in dramatic fashion,” Nelson says. “Given the growing body of knowledge supporting the connection between immune health and overall well-being, we believe this is only the beginning. 

“Consumers are looking for proactive steps they can take to have more healthy days,” she continues. “Beverages that deliver immune-supportive benefits can help them realize that goal.”

 

LIFEWTR Immune Support
Image courtesy of LIFEWTR

 

An immunity evolution

With a body of evidence on the role nutrition plays in immune health, experts note that research has evolved in recent years. 

“For example, there’s a deepening understanding of the relationship between the microbiome and the immune system, which has further increased already high levels of interest in probiotics,” Kerry’s Quilter says. “BC3 is a leading spore-forming probiotic, which has been shown to support immune health and can be used in a wide range of beverage products.

“We’re also learning more about the immunomodulatory properties of other ingredients,” he continues. “For example, a 2020 review indicated that some beta glucans may ‘train’ the body’s immune cells to react more quickly when a pathogen is detected. [Kerry’s] Wellmune, a food, beverage and supplement ingredient, is the only yeast beta glucan supported by over a dozen published, peer-reviewed clinical studies.” 

Cargill’s Nelson notes that, although today’s consumers most closely associate vitamins C and D with immune health, the emerging postbiotic beverage segment is gaining traction.

In terms of media coverage, consumer awareness and product sales, “it certainly helps that many consumers are already familiar with probiotics and prebiotics,” she says. “While consumers may not know exactly what each ‘biotic’ does, they consider them beneficial to their health ― and that makes it easier to understand that postbiotics have health benefits, too,” she explains.

For food scientists and product manufacturers, Nelson highlights how ingredients like Cargill’s EpiCor postbiotic offer advantages on the formulation side. 

“While probiotics must remain alive ― from processing and packaging until they reach the consumer’s gut, postbiotics are not living organisms and are highly heat and pH stable,” she says. “Further, while prebiotics typically require relatively large use rates, EpiCor postbiotic has a recommended use rate of just 500 mg. This formulation flexibility creates a clear differentiation for postbiotics, making it possible to deliver immune health benefits across a range of beverage applications. 

“[EpiCor] is backed by over 75 years of fermentation expertise,” she continues. “It is produced through a natural, proprietary process that creates a unique fingerprint of metabolites. To date, there are more than a dozen published studies supporting its health benefits. Among the findings, these studies show EpiCor postbiotic supports year-round and seasonal nasal health, immune defenses to face daily challenges, and healthy gut function.”

 

REBBL’s immune support
Adding immunity support to its top flavors: Reishi Chocolate, Turmeric Golden-Milk, Vanilla Protein and Dark Chocolate Protein, REBBL’s immune support comes from baker's yeast beta-glucan, which is flavorless and generally recognized as safe, the company says.
Image courtesy of REBBL

 

Formulation flexibility is key 

Although certain beverages are particularly well-positioned for incorporating immune-supporting ingredients, experts note that formulation flexibility is key for adding probiotics and postbiotics to a variety of beverage products.

Cargill’s Nelson notes that, although formulation flexibility might seem beneficial for manufacturers only, it also can be advantageous for consumers. 

“As the functional beverage category takes off, many brands are looking for ingredients that can deliver health-supportive benefits ― especially around immunity and gut health,” she explains. “EpiCor postbiotic was first established in the supplement space but our application scientists have found it’s a good fit for food and beverages, too. 

“EpiCor has been easy to formulate into a wide variety of beverages, including chocolate milks, coffee drinks, teas, smoothies and more,” she continues. “EpiCor fortifies these applications with immune and gut health support all backed by a three-year shelf life.”

Kerry’s Quilter notes that with most processing conditions encountered in beverage manufacturing, Wellmune is compatible from a flavor and stability standpoint.

“Categories where it can add immune support benefits include juices, smoothies, energy drinks, enhanced waters and dairy drinks,” he says. “Wellmune can be easily formulated into a wide variety of beverage products. It’s available in soluble and dispersible powder formats, has no adverse flavor impacts, is highly stable and has a five-year shelf life.

“Meanwhile, the emergence of resilient, spore-forming strains has allowed formulation with probiotics in a much wider range of beverages,” he continues. “For example, because spore-formers can withstand exposure to boiling water, manufacturers have been able to use them in tea and coffee products.”


Immune-support for all ages

Given the importance of immune support at all stages of life, experts note that it is a top concern for consumers across all age groups. 

“Research from the International Food Information Council’s (IFIC) 2022 Food & Health Survey suggests that immune support is a top priority for adults ― young and old ― but it resonates especially well with millennials,” Cargill’s Nelson says. “Still, across the board, the IFIC research found strong interest in products that support immune health.

“In the recent survey, one in four consumers reported seeking out immune health benefits from foods, beverages and nutrients ― suggesting plenty of opportunity for brands targeting the functional beverage space,” she continues. “Today’s heightened interest in immune health shows no sign of abating ― but we believe savvy consumers want products backed by scientific research.” 

Kerry’s Quilter notes that, although COVID-19 also has raised the stakes in terms of consumer expectations of scientific substantiation ― people now are even more likely to ask questions about the claims made by brands.

“One of the changes has been a broadening of the areas where consumers are looking for benefits,” Quilter says. “Their needs are becoming more complex, so there’s now greater interest in areas like stress relief, energy and mood, as well as immune support, creating opportunities for hybrid products which offer multiple benefits.

“The world may be returning to a ‘pre-pandemic normal’ in some respects, but the interest in products offering immune support will endure into the foreseeable future,” he concludes.


KEYWORDS: functional ingredients immune health postbiotics Probiotics

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Sabetta lauren

Lauren Sabetta, managing editor for Beverage Industry, writes for the magazine’s print and online components. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Communication, Journalism from Appalachian State University.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Chocolate, Strawberry, Vanilla shakes

    Classic flavors provide reliable, consistent results for beverage-makers

    Classic flavors of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry...
    Ingredient Spotlight
    By: Chloe Alverson
  • Free Spirits Instant Bar Bundle

    Lifestyle trends drive growth for non-alcohol category

    As lifestyle trends continue to drive growth for the...
    Alternative Drinks
    By: Lauren Sabetta
  • Younger generation displays unique habits when it comes to beverage consumption

    Generation Z shakes things up in beverage

    Experts share that Gen Z is changing the standard on what...
    Beverage News
    By: Chloe Alverson
Manage My Account
  • eNewsletters
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Manage My Preferences

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Beverage Industry audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Beverage Industry or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Fourpeople toasting with cocktails made with low-sugar ingredients, celebrating healthier drink options.
    Sponsored byCargill

    What’s Hot in Sugar Reduction: Beverages

  • chocolate milk
    Sponsored byCargill

    Sweetening the Future for Dairy and Dairy-Alternative Beverages

  • woman pouring a drink
    Sponsored byFFP

    Building a Beverage System: Meeting Consumer Demand for Precision Wellness

Popular Stories

Sting Energy

PepsiCo, Sting Energy unveil global partnership with Formula 1

PepsiCo + poppi

PepsiCo completes acquisition of poppi

people drinking Wynk

Mindful drinking prompts growth for THC beverages

Vote for your favorite new product

Have your say in what makes it to the top this month!
Vote for your favorite new product and help us celebrate excellence.


VOTE NOW!

Events

April 16, 2025

2025 State of the Industry Series: Alcoholic Beverages

On Demand In Beverage Industry’s annual State of the Industry: The Alcohol Beverage Market, analysts at S&D Insights LLC delve into these trends and how they’re shaping the industry.

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Retail Coffee Segment

What retail coffee segments will fare well into the next year?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

Milk and Dairy Foods Nutrition, Processing and Healthy Aging

Milk and Dairy Foods Nutrition, Processing and Healthy Aging

See More Products

Related Articles

  • Poppi Probiotics

    Immune health benefits help probiotic beverages appeal to diverse consumer groups

    See More
  • Woman drinking green juice

    Beverage-makers work to deliver stress relief, relaxation benefits

    See More
  • citrus ingredients that contain vitamin C

    Citrus continues to help beverage-makers reach on-trend profiles

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • innovative.jpg

    Innovative Technologies in Beverage Processing

  • cleaning-in-place-dairy-foo.gif

    Cleaning-in-Place: Dairy, Food and Beverage Operations, 3rd Edition

  • sustainable.jpg

    Sustainable Food and Beverage Industries Assessments and Methodologies

See More Products
×

Elevate your expertise in the beverage marketplace with unparalleled insights and connections.

Join thousands of beverage professionals today. Shouldn’t you know what they know?

JOIN NOW!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing