Orlando Baking Co., Cleveland, OH, introduced True Grains, a line of whole-wheat breads formulated with probiotic cultures, the first such products in North America. The line, which debuted in January 2011, includes Honey Wheat and Seed’licious, a multiseed variety containing flax, sunflower and chia seeds plus millet. The kosher-certified breads retail for $3.99 a loaf.

According to Michelle Monaco, Orlando Baking’s marketing director, the True Grains line resulted from a 2-year collaboration between the bakery and Ganeden Biotech, Mayfield Heights, OH, using
Ganeden-BC³⁰ probiotics.

“As we see it, the True Grains probiotic line positions sliced bread back on top as the greatest thing ever,” said Nick Orlando Jr., vice-president of sales for the bakery. “Our probiotic breads will appeal to consumers who may suffer from digestive health issues and are interested in the benefits of maintaining a healthy belly.”

Also this past year, Cedar’s Mediterranean Foods, Boston, MA, debuted the world’s first probiotic-fortified wrap, plus a new line of all-natural hummus made with probiotics. The company’s Whole Wheat and Thin White wraps now include probiotics. The probiotic wraps come in a 4-piece 10-oz package with a suggested retail price of $3.49. The company noted that this does not represent a line extension, but rather the probiotic-enhanced wraps will replace the current wraps line and use a new packaging design.

Dominick Frocione, Cedar’s vice-president of sales, said that survivability and ease of addition attracted his company to the Ganeden-BC³⁰ probiotics being used. “Plus, being able to offer our customers a value-added product that helps with digestive health is a real win for us,” he said.