Inside BENEO’s new pulse plant: pioneering sustainable protein from faba beans
Dr Neetu Kumra Taneja, Food Microbiologist and Biotechnologist, Associate Professor (Microbiology) and Associate Head Centre for Food Research and Analysis (CFRA), NIFTEM, Kundli
Are traditional fermented foods enough for gut health today?
They can be often very helpful but they’re not a one-size-fits-all solution. Traditional fermented foods (curd/yoghurt, kefir, lassi, fermented vegetables) supply live microbes, fermented metabolites and food matrix benefits (fiber, vitamins, peptides) that can modify the gut microbiome and improve bowel function and some health outcomes. Eating traditional fermented foods regularly is a low risky way to support gut health especially as part of a fiber-rich diet but may not replace targeted therapeutic approaches for specific clinical conditions.
Does India need daily supplementation or only therapeutic usage?
Most Indians do not universally require daily probiotic supplements, dietary approaches should come first, although targeted supplementation is appropriate for specific conditions or populations. Promote fermented foods and prebiotic fibers broadly; reserve daily probiotic supplements for therapeutic uses or when a clinician recommends them.
What do you think most Indians prefer right now? Curd or a capsule?
Curd/yoghurt (and fermented foods/drinks) remain more commonly consumed, but supplement use is the fastest-growing segment. If you’re designing an intervention or product in India, fermented-food formats reach broader audiences and supplements are attractive to niche/urban markets and growth investors.
Is curd/yogurt clinically comparable to a probiotic capsule?
Yes, sometimes for certain outcomes and no for others. It depends on strain, dose, product viability and the clinical endpoint. For general gut wellness, good-quality yogurt/curd helps and can be comparable; for targeted clinical therapy (specific strains/doses), capsules often offer better control.
Are CFU numbers just marketing?
No — CFU matters, but they’re only one part of the story and can be misused in marketing. A high CFU is meaningful if paired with proven strains, proper formulation, and clear shelf-life claims otherwise it can be marketing noise. One should look for (a) named strains, (b) clinical evidence for that strain/dose, and (c) a guaranteed CFU at end-of-shelf-life and not just a big CFU number on the label.
What format will dominate India in the next 5 years?
A mixed market, fermented foods and functional dairy will remain dominant in reach, while supplements and value-added functional beverages will grow fastest and gain market share in urban places.
Mainstream = food/dairy formats; fastest growth & investor interest = supplements and novel beverages.
Future of gut health — dairy + supplements coexist or compete?
Coexistence with complementary roles. Dairy and traditional ferments will continue as culturally embedded, affordable, daily strategies to support gut health. Supplements will grow as therapeutic, targeted, or convenience options.
Mansi Jamsudkar Padvekar