Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus
Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus is a lactic acid bacterium that was named Lactobacillus rhamnosus until the 2020 split of the Lactobacillus genus, and older documents call it Lactobacillus casei subsp. rhamnosus. Commercial strains are grown by fermentation, harvested by centrifugation, mixed with cryoprotectants and freeze-dried. It is one of the most widely sold probiotic species, usually bought as a named strain such as GG or HN001 at a stated CFU per gram.
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Pure L. rhamnosus powder at a high count stated in billions of CFU per gram, sold for dilution or blending by the buyer.
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.
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.
Culture coated with lipids, polysaccharides or other wall materials, or supplied in enteric or acid-resistant capsules, to limit exposure to moisture, oxygen and acid during processing and storage.
Inactivated L. rhamnosus cells sold by cell count or weight rather than CFU; it is a different ingredient from the live culture and is outside Health Canada's live probiotics monograph.
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
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.
Record the actual CFU/g on each lot's COA, since counts vary between lots and set the amount needed per batch, along with the strain designation and carrier. Rotate stock FEFO and build in the overage your stability data calls for so the finished product still meets its label count at the end of shelf life.
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
Health Canada's Probiotics monograph for natural health products lists Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus (formerly Lactobacillus rhamnosus) 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)Health Canada's Probiotics monograph also lists strain GG of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus by name in its own table with strain-specific conditions.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)FDA's GRAS Notice Inventory lists GRN 231 for Lactobacillus casei subsp. rhamnosus strain GG for use in term infant formula, notified by Mead Johnson & Company; it closed on May 29, 2008 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.
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
Manufacturer · Lyngby, Denmark
Sells it as LGG
Danish biosolutions company formed from Novozymes and Chr. Hansen that supplies probiotic strains, HMOs, dairy cultures and enzymes to supplement, infant formula and food makers.
Manufacturer · Lund, Sweden
Swedish developer and producer of proprietary probiotic strains, including Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v, sold to supplement and food brands as bulk ingredients or finished formats. It is part of the Symrise group.
Suppliers are in alphabetical order and none pays to appear. Each claim is checked against the supplier’s own website on the date shown. Ask for the specification sheet and a recent COA before you order, and confirm details with the supplier.
Common forms include freeze-dried concentrate, standardized dilution, named strain, microencapsulated or coated and heat-killed. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
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.
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.
Health Canada's Probiotics monograph for natural health products lists Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus (formerly Lactobacillus rhamnosus) as a medicinal ingredient, and the licence application and label must give the strain designation. Health Canada's Probiotics monograph also lists strain GG of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus by name in its own table with strain-specific conditions. FDA's GRAS Notice Inventory lists GRN 231 for Lactobacillus casei subsp. rhamnosus strain GG for use in term infant formula, notified by Mead Johnson & Company; it closed on May 29, 2008 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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