Taking a probiotic to support gut health? That means you’re also taking positive steps to support your overall wellbeing with all those live beneficial bacteria. But knowing that the bacteria are alive, one might wonder: do probiotics expire?* The short answer is, yes, there is such a thing as probiotic expiration—as living things, probiotics do die—but when that is and what that means depends on the specific supplement at hand.

We consulted our team of experts and are here to explain exactly how probiotic expiration works, what to watch out for, and why Synbiotic+ does not require refrigeration.

How Long Do Probiotics Last?

The most accurate place to look for the probiotic expiration date is on the packaging of the supplement itself, which should also list the CFU count, or number of colony-forming units of live probiotic bacteria, contained within the supplement. Most probiotics have a shelf life of about a year, but some expire sooner or later depending on how they are encapsulated and whether they require refrigeration. Some probiotics, due to their design as well as what bacterial strains are used, are less stable than others.

Can You Take Expired Probiotics?

It is recommended that probiotics be used before their expiration date, even if your probiotic is meant to be refrigerated to help ensure what's on the label is what's inside the probiotic. Testing performed on expired probiotics has shown that after their expiration date, their effectiveness declines over time. (1)

The Shelf Life of Synbiotic+

When we were designing our Synbiotic+ for digestive health, we wanted to make sure that it was as convenient to take as possible to encourage people to take it every day. That’s why we designed it as a shelf stable probiotic (aka: does not need to be refrigerated), with a moisture-controlled bottle designed to protect its probiotic strains. (2) We also used two of the world’s most clinically studied strains, Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LGG®) and Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis (BB-12®). According to our Director of Innovation and Product Development, Dr. Shilpa Raut, Synbiotic+ has a shelf life of about 1 year. “We have run stability studies to ensure that Synbiotic+ product meets label claims for 1 year from date of manufacturing when stored in the recommended storage conditions.”*

And what are those storage instructions? Easy: we recommend storing Synbiotic+ right on the shelf (in a dry environment) next to your multivitamin. As Dr. Raut says, “We have designed the Synbiotic+ packaging to help maintain the stability of the biotic strains. Hence it's recommended to keep them in their packaging. Always make sure to store probiotics and any other supplements in a cool dry place away from sunlight.”

At Ritual, we work hard to ensure the high-quality probiotics in Synbiotic+ are formulated and stored to maintain their potency up until the expiration date. Now that you’re well informed on the shelf life of probiotics and what that expiration date means, you can feel confident about what you’re putting into your gut.

References:

1. Wilcox, Hannah, Carr, Charles, Seney, Shannon, Reid, Gregor, Burton, Jeremy. (2020). “Expired Probiotics: What is Really in Your Cabinet?” Retrieved from FEMS Microbes.
2. Best Practices Guidelines for Probiotics. (2017). Retrieved from the Council for Responsible Nutrition.
3. Hogan DE, Ivanina EA, Robbins DH. (2018). Probiotics: a review for clinical use. Retrieved from Gastroenterology & Endoscopy News.
4. Fenster, Kurt, Freeburg, Barbara, Hollard, Chris, Wong, Connie, Rønhave Laursen, Ouwehand, Arthur C. (2019). The Production and Delivery of Probiotics: A Review of a Practical Approach. Retrieved from Microorganisms.
5. Govender, Mershen, Choonara, Yahya E., Kumar, Pradeep, du Toit, Lisa C., van Vuuren, Sandy, Pillay, Viness Pillay. (2014) A Review of the Advancements in Probiotic Delivery: Conventional vs. Non-conventional Formulations for Intestinal Flora Supplementation. Retrieved from AAPS PharmSciTech.