Interest Surging in Probiotic Foods that Promote Health

SAN DIEGO, May 27 /PRNewswire/ -- A growing body of research was presented at
the symposium, "The Health Benefits of Probiotics" at the American Academy of
Physician Assistants (AAPA) 37th Annual Conference. PAs from around the world
who attended are an educational bridge to consumers and they desire to know
more about these "friendly" bacteria and how to recommend them to their
patients.

The symposium brought together scientific experts and medical doctors in the
fields of gastroenterology, nutrition, microbiology and pediatrics to share
cutting-edge research on the health effects of probiotics.

A world class panel of speakers, including Mary Ellen Sanders, PhD
(International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics), W. Allan
Walker, MD (Harvard Medical School), Yehuda Ringel, MD (University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill), and Martin Floch, MD (Yale University School of
Medicine) shared their extensive knowledge of the science of probiotics and
their understanding of clinical applications for current preventive practices,
treatments, and health promoting approaches.

Physician Assistants are increasingly asked to explain how probiotics like
those in cultured dairy products and other foods or supplements can benefit
the gastrointestinal tract, immunity, and health throughout the lifespan.
This symposium provided the scientific evidence to help them do that.

Dr. W. Allan Walker, Director of the Division of Nutrition at Harvard Medical
School, presented data on some of the mechanisms by which probiotics are
having their effect. "In infants, gut bacteria are acquired up until about 2
years of age. 'Good' bacteria consumed during this time can therefore promote
the right type of bacterial colonization and can lead to enhanced immunity,"
said Walker.

Probiotics are a diverse group of live microorganisms. They are called "good"
bacteria because they can provide health benefits when provided in the right
amounts. Probiotics have been clinically shown to be effective in the
prevention and treatment of certain gastrointestinal disorders, respiratory
infections, and allergic conditions. New research continues to emerge
demonstrating their positive impact on health in all ages and in optimizing
immune system function.

Dr. Mary Ellen Sanders described the vital role that bacteria play in our
bodies. "Bacteria colonizing our bodies are numerous and vital. They
outnumber our own cells 10-fold and are known to play critical roles in immune
system development, maturation of intestinal cells and providing important
metabolic functions that we can't do for ourselves. Probiotics can enhance
these normal, beneficial activities of our colonizing microbes and have been
shown to promote health in a variety of ways," she said.

There are numerous different probiotic foods and supplements available in the
US market today. Probiotics are used worldwide and the US and European
probiotic markets are expected to expand as more people become educated on
their health benefits.

The program was made possible by an unrestricted educational grant provided by
The Dannon Company, Inc. and Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd.

For more information on probiotics, visit www.probioticscenter.com.

A Web cast of the symposium will be made available at www.aapa.org.

Dannon and Yakult Continue to Advocate and Lead Probiotic Research and
Education
In March 2004, Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd. and Danone, the parent company of The
Dannon Company, jointly established the Global Probiotics Council. The role of
the GPC is to promote and advance probiotics in the world by raising public
awareness through education, communicating the latest knowledge to relevant
interest groups, and supporting collaborative research in the areas of
probiotics and intestinal microbiota.

The Dannon Company is America's founding national yogurt company and
continually leverages its expertise to develop and market innovative cultured
fresh dairy products in the United States. Headquartered in White Plains, NY,
Dannon has plants in Minster, OH, Fort Worth, TX, and West Jordan, UT. The
company produces and sells approximately 100 different types of flavors,
styles and sizes of cultured fresh dairy products. Dannon is owned by Danone,
one of the world's leading producers of packaged foods and beverages, and
Dannon is the top-selling brand of yogurt products worldwide, sold under the
names Dannon and Danone. With a strong commitment to high-quality, wholesome,
nutritious and innovative products, The Dannon Company is committed to
encouraging healthy eating and living. This commitment is also illustrated
through The Dannon Company's support of the Dannon Institute, an independent,
non-profit foundation dedicated to promoting research, education, and
communication about the links between nutrition, diet and health. For more
information, please visit www.dannon.com. For more information on probiotics,
visit www.probioticscenter.com.

Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is the world's pioneer
in probiotics by introducing the first single shot probiotics drink,
Yakult(R), in 1935. Founded by microbiologist Dr. Minoru Shirota, Yakult(R)
contains high amounts of its signature strain, Lactobacillus casei Shirota.
Yakult is committed to researching the endless applications for probiotics and
the use of intestinal bacteria in human health around the world. The company
has established two science institutes to support its efforts; one in Japan
(Yakult Central Institute for Microbiological Research) and one in Europe
(Yakult Honsha European Research Center for Microbiology ESV). Since
developing its overseas network in 1964, Yakult has expanded its business to
32 countries and territories. In addition to producing the internationally
recognized probiotic beverage, Yakult is also accredited in the pharmaceutical
field for its development of Campto Injection (Camptosar), the first-line drug
for colorectal cancer in the U.S. Yakult U.S.A. Inc., the subsidiary of Yakult
Honsha Co., Ltd., is stationed in Torrance, CA. For more information, please
visit www.yakult.co.jp/english, www.yakult.co.jp/institute, www.yakultusa.com.

SOURCE The Dannon Company, Inc.; Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd.

Patricia Kearney or Kasey Heintz for The Dannon Company and Yakult Honsha Co.,
Ltd., +1-703-841-1600, pmk@pmkassociates.com