A Spanish biotech company, Puleva Biotech, has isolated and categorized the types of probiotic bacteria in
breast milk in an attempt to determine the source and nature of its health benefits to children. The company says
that breast milk was previously considered to be sterile, but it has isolated more than 3,000 types of bacteria in
their samples. They report that they have determined the health benefits of 4 of these types and the company has come
up with a unique way to use them: in yogurt.
The company has developed a yogurt, Puvela Max Defenses, that is enriched with these four strains of probiotic bacteria. Aimed at children between the ages of four and twelve, the yogurt is intended to provide the some same health benefits to these older children that they received as infants. The four types of bacteria promote a healthy intestine, stimulate the immune system and aid in the body's absorption of vitamins and minerals.
It seems unlikely that this product, or even one similar to it, will become available in the United States. Even though the Spanish company has done research to back up their findings, the idea that simply inserting potentially beneficial bacteria into other products is relatively unproven. In addition, the US consumer seems to be turning away from engineered products, even when the goal of the modifications is to bring the product back to a more "natural" state.
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