Manufacturers, and ordinary consumers, have long known that yoghurts with probiotics in their composition are healthy, but very difficult to store products. Manufacturers also know that these products are very demanding in terms of packaging and packing conditions. That is why plastic is considered the traditional packaging for them, and they can only be stored in the refrigerator and for a very short period of time.

However, with the implementation of the joint development of SIG and AnaBio Technologies, everything can change. The two companies announced the global launch of aseptic packaging for shelf-stable probiotic yogurt without refrigeration. Until now, the inclusion of probiotics in aseptic beverage packaging was considered impossible because they do not withstand the usual heat treatments used in production. They can also be shelf stable, which has previously limited their short shelf life in refrigerators.

AnaBio's encapsulation technology is now combined with SIG's gentle aseptic filling technology to package live probiotic drinks into cartons. In addition, they can now be stored at room temperature for long periods of time. "Our innovative patented ‘encapsulation’ technology coats probiotic cells, such as Lactobacillus strains, with a protective layer," explains Sinéad Bleiel, Founder of AnaBio Technologies. "This allows the strains to withstand high temperatures during processing. When the probiotic product is consumed, the coating is naturally broken down by digestive enzymes releasing the probiotic to colonize the small intestine and deliver their health benefits."

"Our innovation offers lower distribution costs as no refrigeration is required, longer shelf life, increased reach and less food wastage for both retailers and consumers.", - adds Christoph Wegener, Chief Markets officer at SIG. "Our aseptic carton packs are proven to be one of the most sustainable packaging solutions in the market."

Materials from the sites sig.biz, packagingeurope.com were used.