By Andi Anderson

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) has announced the relaunch of its Live and Active Cultures (LAC) Seal, a widely recognized independent verification for live and active yogurt cultures in dairy products. The seal is aimed at helping consumers easily identify products containing significant levels of live and active yogurt cultures, such as yogurt, frozen yogurt, and kefir.

Key points about the LAC Seal and the relaunch:

• Voluntary Certification: The LAC Seal is a voluntary certification available to all manufacturers of yogurt and cultured dairy products. To qualify, products must contain at least 100 million cultures per gram, which is 10 times higher than the minimum levels required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For frozen yogurt, the requirement is at least 10 million cultures per gram at the time of manufacture. 
• Updated Policies and Guidelines: The IDFA has recently updated the policies and guidelines around the use of the LAC Seal. This relaunch aims to make the seal more accessible to the entire yogurt and cultured dairy products industry. 
• Health and Wellness Attributes: The LAC Seal is presented as a way for manufacturers to demonstrate the presence of valuable live and active yogurt cultures in their products. The seal emphasizes the unique health and wellness attributes associated with live and active cultures, which are known to contribute to gut health and aid in the breakdown of lactose.
• Consumer Demand for Health Attributes: According to a 2021 survey by the International Food Information Council (IFIC), two-thirds (67%) of consumers who are aware of live and active cultures believe that products containing them are better for their health. Gut health and nutrition are identified as top drivers for consumers purchasing yogurt and similar cultured dairy products.
• Application Process: Companies interested in applying for the LAC Seal are encouraged to visit the IDFA homepage or www.idfa.org/live-active-cultures-seal for more information on the application process.
• Representation of Dairy Industry: The IDFA, based in Washington, D.C., represents the dairy manufacturing and marketing industry in the United States. Its diverse membership includes multinational organizations, single-plant companies, dairy companies, cooperatives, food retailers, and suppliers, all contributing to the innovation and sustainability of the dairy business.
• Consumer Benefits: The dairy industry, represented by IDFA, highlights the delicious, safe, and nutritious aspects of dairy foods, offering unparalleled health and consumer benefits to people of all ages.

The relaunch of the LAC Seal aligns with the growing consumer demand for health-conscious food choices and provides a recognizable marker for products containing live and active yogurt cultures in the competitive dairy market.

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