Most probiotic supplements are sold in powder form, although some brands may carry capsules or tablets. Not all probiotic supplements are created equal, and it’s important to understand the production process before an informed buying decision can be made.
To produce probiotic supplements, bacteria are cultured and purified by either centrifugation or filtration. Filtration is slower and more accurate, and produces the best quality product. The bacteria are then freeze-dried, a process that removes water at cold temperatures, thereby keeping bacteria alive but dormant.
Probiotics should be packaged and sold in brown glass jars, which the consumer should store in the refrigerator.
