Symrise and Probi Highlight Biotic and Botanical Innovations, Signaling Expansion in Vascular and Postbiotic Categories

Following the formal establishment of its new Care & Wellness Division, Symrise, alongside its subsidiary Probi, introduced a consolidated portfolio of science-backed wellness solutions at this year’s Vitafoods Europe. The joint exhibition in Barcelona marked a major strategic milestone for both entities since Symrise acquired Probi in 2025, validating a unified corporate trajectory intended to meet shifting global demands for consumer-centric functional concepts.¹

“By jointly showcasing our Health Active and Probi solutions at Vitafoods Europe, we demonstrate the powerful offering of our Care & Wellness strategy in action,” stated Eloi Fontaine, VP Health Active Solutions at Symrise. “By combining strong expertise in health actives, biotics, and formulation, we have uniquely positioned ourselves to translate science into relevant, consumer-centric solutions that support everyday health and wellbeing for the entire family.”

Expanding Formulation Horizons with Postbiotics

Building on its probiotic portfolio, Probi now formally enters into the rapidly growing postbiotic segment through the global debut of Rham271h.^1,2 This specific ingredient represents a heat-inactivated version of the established probiotic strain Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus 271 (DSM 6594). Traditional functional food and beverage applications encounter the challenges to the survival and viability of live bacteria, the company explains. Postbiotics directly address these long-standing manufacturing constraints to provide enhanced stability, ingredient compatibility, and flexibility in formulation.

The company references in vitro studies that indicate Rham271h retains crucial biological activity despite being heat-inactivated. It demonstrates a significant increase in the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, supports gut barrier integrity, and regulates immune responses associated with inflammation. Formulations are structured around a predictable, minimum effective daily dose of 10 billion Total Fluorescent Units (TFU). Given that the postbiotic strain is Non-GMO, Gluten-Free, Halal-certified, and listed on the Qualified Presumption of Safety (QPS) roster, it provides functional food, beverage, and dietary supplement manufacturers with a highly stable and predictable alternative to living microorganisms, explains Anita Johansen, CEO, Probi.

“Rham 271h represents an important addition to our portfolio,” she adds. “It allows us to offer our customers greater flexibility in product development, reflects Probi’s commitment to advancing innovation in microbiome science and builds a strong scientific foundation for our strains.”

Targeting Cardiovascular Fitness and Active Lifestyles

To further address the expanding sports nutrition sector, Probi also showcased its dedicated Sports & Active Nutrition solution to the broader nutraceutical sector. Centered on the highly documented Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v (LP299V), a premium probiotic strain backed by 80 clinical trials and more than 290 publications, this platform targets metabolic support, cardiorespiratory fitness, and digestive balance. Clinical research highlights measurable benefits for iron absorption and key physical performance markers such as VO₂ max, offering manufacturers a foundation for targeted active lifestyle supplement lines.

Botanical Innovation for Circulation and Microvascular Health

Simultaneously, Symrise expanded its health active portfolio with Hibicyan, a novel hibiscus extract standardized to a specific anthocyanin concentration. Engineered to support vascular health and the "beauty-from-within" market, the extract is produced in both liquid and powder forms to allow for flexibility across distinct product application matrices. In vitro data demonstrate its potential to support vascular health, the company states, while comprehensive toxicological testing validates its safety profile for long-term daily ingestion, differentiating it from traditional botanical alternatives. At the event, Symrise highlighted this utility via its award-winning "Blooming Beauty" functional beverage concept, which blends Hibicyan with the Acerowell healthy aging acerola-based platform, a formulation that previously earned Taste Bar Award for Best Tasting Nutricosmetic Beverage in the Inner Beauty Zone.

This article was created with assistance from AI. The content has been reviewed and edited by Erin McEvoy, Associate Editor. For more information on the extent and nature of AI usage, please contact us.

References

1. Symrise. Symrise presents Health Active & Probi portfolios at Vitafoods Europe to deliver science‑backed wellness solutions. April 28, 2026. Accessed May 20, 2026. https://www.symrise.com/newsroom/article/symrise-presents-health-active-probir-portfolios-at-vitafoods-europe-to-deliver-science-backed-wellness-solutions/
2. Probi. Probi enters the fast-growing postbiotic market with Rham271h™ launch at Vitafoods Europe. May 5, 2026. Accessed May 20, 2026. https://www.probi.com/press-releases/2026/probi-enters-the-fast-growing-postbiotic-market-with-rham271h-launch-at-vitafoods-europe/