Experts warn against mass-produced ‘probiotic’ foods as interest surges
The federal government’s latest dietary guidelines now specifically encourage Americans to eat more fermented food, the Associated Press reported, as a growing focus on gut health has brought a traditional preservation method into the spotlight.
Devi Shastri of the Associated Press reported that the rising interest in gut health is driven by several trends: “fibermaxxing” going mainstream, rising colorectal cancer rates among younger adults, and the increasing popularity of personalized gut microbiome treatments. Against that backdrop, fermentation — a process by which naturally occurring microbes such as bacteria and yeast break down and preserve food — has gained new attention.
The foods have also been further popularized by followers of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again movement, according to the AP report. While other diet fads championed by MAHA — such as unproven claims about raw milk and seed oils — have been questioned by health experts, the AP noted that “there’s some science behind the benefits of eating fermented foods.”
Fermentation is a practice that dates back thousands of years in human history, arising from the need to keep food from spoiling long before refrigeration. Many cultures developed traditional fermented foods, including yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, and South Indian dishes such as idli and dosa.
Dietitians and doctors told the AP that fermented foods are a great addition to almost anyone’s diet. However, they specifically warned against new, mass-produced products that market themselves as probiotic. Perelman, one expert cited in the AP report, said even probiotic supplements are essentially trying to replicate the combinations of beneficial bacteria that naturally grow in many fermented foods.
“Consumers are getting excited about it and trying to choose products that are fermented and with the idea that it’s very ‘gut healthy,’ which is not a clinical definition,” Perelman told the AP.
The AP report is part of its Be Well coverage, a series focusing on wellness, fitness, diet and mental health.