IFF announced today the launch of YO-MIX® ViV, a groundbreaking new solution for ambient yogurt and other fermented drinks producers in Asia Pacific, with a focus on China. Unlike other solutions available on the market, YO-MIX® ViV is a unique culture that for the first time, allows producers to offer ambient yogurt and other fermented beverages to contain highly stable live cultures throughout the shelf-life. Developed with IFF’s expertise in lactic acid bacteria and fermentation, YO-MIX® ViV represents an exciting new choice for both producers and consumers who seek dairy options with extremely robust live cultures.
Consumers around the world are increasingly aware that products containing probiotics and live cultures have numerous health benefits, particularly gut health and digestibility. Globally, yogurt has become a popular choice because it often contains live cultures. In China, ambient yogurt is a convenient fermented snack, ideal for on-the-go consumption. It is also widely believed to be a source of healthy live cultures, a perception that drives frequent consumption. According to Kantar’s consumer statistics, by the first half of 2020, 72.3 percent of Chinese urban consumers had consumed ambient yogurt.
Traditionally, there have been limitations to contain live cultures in ambient yogurt and other dairy products throughout shelf life due to the manufacturing process. With the new YO-MIX® ViV culture, producers can now offer ambient yogurt products that deliver the same level of live cultures as fresh yogurt and other fermented foods.
YO-MIX® ViV is a lactic acid bacteria culture from natural fermented plant-based food, sourced in China. YO-MIX® ViV brings out all that is best in a traditional fermented dairy product. The result is a premium long shelf-life yogurt that meets the high standards of quality and safety while delivering stable, active live cultures backed by a reliable on-pack claim, meeting the consumers’ need for a healthy everyday diet. According to an internal IFF survey with 1,280 Chinese consumers across China, 90 percent say they are ready to try ambient yogurts with live cultures.
“YO-MIX® ViV provides yogurt producers with the ability to offer consumers who prefer to have live cultures, the sensory experience, texture and nutrition found in fresh yogurts but have been found them inconvenient to consume and with a short shelf life,” said Dr. Susan Jin, regional business leader, HMO’s, Probiotics, Cultures, and Dairy Enzymes, Asia Pacific, IFF. “Dairy manufacturers now have the excellent opportunity to produce ambient yogurt and other long shelf life fermented products with a live culture claim on the label. This is the latest example of how we apply our expertise in fermentation and dairy cultures to bring transformative solutions to yogurt producers.”
IFF produces cultures that deliver sustainable innovations across a wide variety of food and beverage products. Learn more about the YO-MIX® range of yogurt cultures and other solutions on our website, visit https://www.dupontnutritionandbiosciences.com/product-range/dairy-cultures/yogurt-cultures.html