Table 1.

Distinctions between probiotics, fermented foods and probiotic fermented foods

					Microbial composition
Probiotic substance	Definition	Format	Evidence for health benefit	Claim that is consistent with categorya	Alive and present in levels demonstrated to provide benefit	Taxonomically defined to strain level	Genome sequence available
Probiotic	Live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host	No specific format required	Required	“Probiotic” can be used on the label along with a health benefit claim, such as “helps to reinforce the body’s natural defences”, if the claim is supported by evidence	Required	Required	Required
Fermented food	Foods made through desired microbial growth and enzymatic conversions of food components	Food	Not required	If live microorganisms are not present: “Foods made by fermentation”; if live microorganisms are present: “Contains live and active cultures”	Not required	Not required	Not required
Probiotic fermented food	Food fermented by or containing probiotic(s) with strain-specific evidence	Food	Required	Same as for probiotic	Required for probiotic but not for fermentation microorganisms	Required for probiotic but not for fermentation microorganisms	Required for probiotic but not for fermentation microorganisms
	Food fermented by or containing probiotic(s) without strain-specific evidence	Food	Required	“Contains probiotics”	Required for probiotic but not for fermentation microorganisms	Required for probiotic but not for fermentation microorganisms	Required for probiotic but not for fermentation microorganisms

^aAs allowed by local or regional regulations.