Lacticaseibacillus casei

Lacticaseibacillus casei suppliers and sourcing guide

Lacticaseibacillus casei, named Lactobacillus casei until 2020, is a lactic acid bacterium long used in fermented milk drinks and cheese ripening. Commercial strains are grown by fermentation, concentrated by centrifugation, mixed with cryoprotectants and freeze-dried, or supplied frozen for dairy use. Its taxonomy has been revised several times and many strains once sold as L. casei are now L. paracasei, so the species and strain on the COA matter.

See suppliers What to ask for on the COA

Category: Probiotics, cultures and yeasts
Also known as: Lactobacillus casei · L. casei
Facts checked: November 2026

Forms and grades of lacticaseibacillus casei

Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.

Freeze-dried concentrate
Pure L. casei powder at a high count stated in billions of CFU per gram, sold for dilution or blending by the buyer.
Standardized dilution
Concentrate diluted with a carrier such as maltodextrin, microcrystalline cellulose or potato starch to a fixed lower count, which is easier to dose in capsules, sachets and powders.
Named strain
A specific strain identified by a culture-collection deposit number or a trade designation, sold with that strain's own documentation; the strain designation belongs on the specification.
Dairy culture
Frozen pellets or freeze-dried direct-to-vat cultures sized in units per volume of milk, used in fermented milk drinks and as a cheese adjunct culture.

What to check on the COA

Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.

Viable count (CFU/g): Plate count on MRS agar under the conditions the supplier's method states, reported as CFU per gram against a minimum; some suppliers also report flow cytometry counts (ISO 19344). The count, not the weight, sets how much goes into each batch.
Identity: Species confirmed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing or a species-specific PCR, and the strain confirmed against the deposited strain by a strain-level method such as whole-genome sequencing or a strain-specific PCR.
Water activity: Water activity of the powder measured with a water activity meter against a low maximum, since viable counts fall faster in moister powder.
Contaminant microbiology: Non-lactic contaminants such as Enterobacteriaceae or coliforms, E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, yeast and mold, plus absence of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes in a stated sample size.
Heavy metals: Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury by ICP-MS, mostly a reflection of the carrier and cryoprotectants in the powder.
Allergen statement: Declaration of milk, soy or other allergens used in the growth medium or carrier, which buyers need for their own label review.

Storage, lots and expiry

Storage and shelf life

Freeze-dried concentrates are usually kept frozen (around -18 °C or colder) or refrigerated, sealed in foil or other moisture- and oxygen-barrier packs, often with desiccant or a nitrogen flush. Let a cold pack reach room temperature before opening so moisture does not condense on the powder, and reseal partly used packs at once. Shelf life is set by the supplier from real-time stability counts at a stated temperature, and aged stock is retested for viable count before use.

Lots and expiry dates

Record the actual CFU/g, strain designation and carrier for each lot, and check that the species name on the COA matches your specification, since some suppliers still label L. paracasei strains as L. casei. Rotate stock FEFO and size the overage from your own finished-product stability data.

Regulatory status

Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.

Health Canada's Probiotics monograph for natural health products lists Lacticaseibacillus casei (formerly Lactobacillus casei) as a medicinal ingredient, and the licence application and label must give the strain designation.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)
FDA's GRAS Notice Inventory lists GRN 429 for Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota for use in fermented dairy products, notified by Yakult Honsha; it closed on December 10, 2012 with FDA having no questions. The notice covers that notifier's strain and intended use only.
Source: hfpappexternal.fda.gov (opens in a new tab)
FDA's draft guidance on dietary supplements containing live microbials states its intent to exercise enforcement discretion so that firms may declare live microbial quantity in colony forming units (CFUs), in addition to the weight declaration required by regulation.
Source: fda.gov (opens in a new tab)

This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.

Lacticaseibacillus casei suppliers

Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.

We are checking lacticaseibacillus casei suppliers now

Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.

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Frequently asked questions

What forms of lacticaseibacillus casei can brands buy?

Common forms include freeze-dried concentrate, standardized dilution, named strain and dairy culture. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.

What should the COA for lacticaseibacillus casei include?

Expect viable count (CFU/g), identity, water activity, contaminant microbiology, heavy metals and allergen statement, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.

How should lacticaseibacillus casei be stored?

What is the regulatory status of lacticaseibacillus casei?

Health Canada's Probiotics monograph for natural health products lists Lacticaseibacillus casei (formerly Lactobacillus casei) as a medicinal ingredient, and the licence application and label must give the strain designation. FDA's GRAS Notice Inventory lists GRN 429 for Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota for use in fermented dairy products, notified by Yakult Honsha; it closed on December 10, 2012 with FDA having no questions. The notice covers that notifier's strain and intended use only. FDA's draft guidance on dietary supplements containing live microbials states its intent to exercise enforcement discretion so that firms may declare live microbial quantity in colony forming units (CFUs), in addition to the weight declaration required by regulation.

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