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Food makers set to embrace live bacteria

NEW YORK, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- Other U.S. food makers are planning versions of the health-oriented item following the success of Dannon's Activia, a yogurt filled with live bacteria.

After the Dannon Company product, which was marketed with a claim of helping regularity for its consumers, topped $100 million in sales during its first year, The New York Times reported that similar live bacteria-laden culinary items are in production.

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While such probiotic foods have garnered an international reputation for being major health remedies, officials from groups like the Food and Drug Administration remain cautious of such a label.

"They are gaining a reputation as being good for you in some way, and there is an element of truth in that," nutritionist David Schardt said. "But it is a very narrow element of truth, in certain very specific diseases where it's been proven to be helpful."

Yet with Stonyfield Farm set to release a probiotic energy drink, TCBY already offering a probiotic frozen yogurt and similar products being sold by Dannon and Lifeway Foods, the growth of such products already seems underway.

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