Storage and transportation of probiotics

Frequently Asked Questions About Spectrumceuticals ‘refrigerated’ probiotics

Why are Spectrumceuticals refrigerated probiotics shipped with cold packs?

Spectrumceuticals refrigerated probiotics will maintain their full potency for at least 14 days and more at room temperature without refrigeration, we include cold packs during shipment to keep the probiotics protected for most of their journey. This helps prevent excessive exposure to high heat during their travels.
To ensure probiotic viability, we add ample additional bacteria overage into the formula to account for loss during transportation, so that our probiotics meet our colony forming unit claim on the label up to expiration date. The ideal storage temperature for probiotics is 8°C or below (do not freeze).

What if the cold packs are not cold upon arrival of shipment?

In most cases, the cold packs will not stay frozen or remain cold during the full time in transit. Even if the cold packs are completely thawed and the product is no longer cold, the probiotics have excellent stability during the short time that they are exposed to ambient temperatures.
The cold packs and wool-lined insulation or foil bags do their job of keeping the probiotics cool during shipping. Thus, the chance of prolonged exposure to high temperatures that might affect potency is minimised.

Do I need to keep ‘refrigerated’ probiotics cold when traveling or away from home?

If refrigeration is not available during traveling or in the workplace, it is usually fine to keep them outside the refrigerator for a week. A few capsules of probiotics can be removed from the refrigerated bottle and put into a smaller air-tight container like a Webster pack if travelling.

Alternatively, if travelling for extended periods of time try our fridge free micro-encapsulate probiotics.

Will my ‘cold’ probiotics still be ‘alive’ after shipping?

Spectrumceuticals probiotics are formulated with additional colon forming units (good bacteria), known as ‘overage’ to ensure our probiotics maintain full potency stated on our labels throughout the expiration date under typical shipping, storage, and handling conditions.

When refrigerated probiotics reach room temperature or above, there will be up to a 2% loss of colony forming units (CFU) for each 24-hour period the probiotic is above 25°C but below 37°C. Deterioration occurs mostly above 25°C, so ‘cold’ probiotics can travel for approximately a maximum of 14 days below 37°C before viability is affected.

High temperatures can kill probiotics, and exposure to temperatures above 46°C can increase the rate of loss rapidly. We try not to ship on days above 35°C however the temperature at destination may be very different from our Sydney pick n’ pack centre so we do ship with an ice brick/gel pack in a woolpack insulated container to protect the probiotics.

Have Spectrumceuticals refrigerated probiotics been tested for potency?

All Spectrumceuticals probiotics are tested upon receiving raw ingredients and on completion of blending to verify full potency and then kept under refrigeration in our warehouse until ready for shipment. Each Aust L undergoes a full stability program via a third party laboratory every two years or every second batch, this is a regulatory requirement in Australia to guarantee potency at the end of the expiration date. We also periodically conduct stability programs simulating transportation conditions at various ambient temperatures and relative humidity.

What other steps are taken to ensure probiotic potency?

To ensure probiotic viability, we add ample additional bacteria overage into the formula to account for loss during transportation, so that our probiotics meet our colony forming unit claim on the label up to expiration date. The ideal storage temperature for probiotics is 8°C or below (do not freeze).