INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT
Assess specific requirements together
Your own strains, different versions or specific quality requirements are agreed as part of a defined project.
CFU
colony-forming units rather than powder mass
UNDERSTANDING QUALITY
Probiotics and CFU: Billions on the label. The details decide.
Ten billion. Twenty billion. Fifty billion. If you want to develop probiotics for your brand or compare products, you need more than the highest value.
Per capsule or per daily serving? At manufacture or at the end of shelf life? For the entire blend or a specific strain?
CFU
the English abbreviation for the same measurement
Timing
clearly distinguish manufacture from the end of shelf life
UNDERSTANDING MICROBIAL COUNTS
What does CFU mean in probiotics?
CFU stands for colony-forming units. The German abbreviation is KBE, from “koloniebildende Einheiten”. The measurement counts units that can grow into visible colonies under the selected laboratory conditions. A colony can arise from a single cell or a group of cells.
The CFU figure therefore describes something different from powder mass. Without further information, 100 milligrams of a raw material cannot be converted into a specific microbial count.
CALCULATION EXAMPLE
Per capsule or per serving? Use the same basis.
A fictional example shows how the figures relate.
| Specification | Example |
|---|---|
| CFU per capsule | 5 billion |
| Capsules per planned daily serving | 2 |
| CFU per daily serving | 10 billion |
| Capsules per jar | 60 |
| Daily servings per jar | 30 |
This is a calculation example, not a dosage recommendation. When comparing offers, you should also consider the same strains, proportions and reference times. An equal daily figure alone does not make different formulations equivalent.
STARTING VALUE VS. END OF SHELF LIFE
Shelf life: The starting value tells only part of the story.
Live cultures may lose viability during storage. A CFU value at manufacture is therefore not equivalent to a figure at the end of shelf life. The reference time and intended storage conditions are crucial when assessing the product.
For your development project, we establish early on what the target figure should refer to. We then clarify which documents and tests are needed for the planned version. A general shelf-life duration unrelated to the formulation offers little help with this decision.
VIABILITY
Dry powder and live cultures – how do they fit together?
Freeze-drying can put cultures into a largely inactive state while preserving their viability. Water availability and storage conditions play an important role. Dry powder therefore does not automatically mean that its microorganisms are no longer alive.
This raises practical questions for your product idea: what does the raw material specification require? How is the blend processed? What packaging is planned? And what storage conditions should apply to the finished product?
THE COMPLETE PRODUCT MATTERS
The formulation goes beyond strain selection.
The environment into which cultures are introduced can also affect their viability. It is therefore worth looking at the complete product: selected cultures, other ingredients and the specific product format. Studies on a raw material do not automatically replace the assessment of every version made from it.
At Schneider Solutions, we consider your desired capsule formulation alongside serving size, packaging and the quality requirements to be clarified. This defines the version you are actually ordering.
BEFORE COMPARING PRICES
Six questions to ask before comparing prices
A meaningful comparison starts with identity and goes beyond the largest number on the label.
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| What are the complete strain designations? | So you compare the same microorganisms. |
| What does the CFU figure refer to? | So capsule, daily serving and total pack are not confused. |
| At what time does the figure apply? | So the manufacturing value and end of shelf life are considered separately. |
| Does the quantity refer to the whole blend or individual strains? | So the composition remains clear. |
| What testing methods and documents are planned? | So requirements and evidence match. |
| What packaging and storage conditions apply? | So you can assess the specific product version. |
Multi-strain products deserve particular attention: a total count does not show whether all strains are present in equal proportions. Analytically distinguishing individual strains within a blend may introduce additional requirements. ISAPP: Information on multi-strain products
YOUR TARGET FORMULATION
Your target formulation is ready? Turn it into a specific configuration.
In the probiotic configurator, you can choose from the available options, see your price and order directly. For specific strains, different versions or individual quality requirements, we start with your project brief.
Learn more
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Have individual probiotics manufactured
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UNDERSTANDING STRAINS
Read complete designations correctly
Explore the probiotic strains wikiGenus, species and strain designation determine which microorganism is actually meant.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about CFU and shelf life
What numbers, storage and formulation mean in practice.
No. A higher number alone does not demonstrate a greater health benefit. The specific selection and its scientific basis are among the decisive factors. NIH: Putting CFU counts in context
No. Storage conditions depend on the specific product. Some versions require refrigeration; others can be stored at room temperature. Always follow the individual product instructions. NIH: Storage guidance
A calculation requires at least the concentration of the specific raw material, for example CFU per gram. This calculation does not replace testing of the finished product and its stability.
If the formulation, packaging or intended conditions change, the previous basis must be reviewed to see whether it still applies. This is clarified as part of the specific development project.
Do you have any further questions?
Veuillez contacter notre équipe d'assistance à l'adresse
help@schneider-solutions.store
YOUR NEXT STEP
Compare more than numbers. Plan a defined product version.
Choose an available configuration or discuss specific strains, packaging and quality requirements with us.