The high-quality rating testifies to the brand’s credibility and provenance and highlights its “commitment to quality”, says OptiBiotix Health CEO, Stephen O’ Hara. It also reinforces the brand’s provenance and reduces the risk of product recalls.
He comments: “The certification ensures that our customers can now have complete and measurable confidence in OptiBiotix products.”
In addition, BRC accreditation can provide useful leverage when negotiating with major retailers and help expedite business throughout the supply chain, O’Hara adds.
“It allows us to do business with retailers, manufacturers, ingredients companies and food service organisations who specify certification as part of their approval process, including most large retailers and their suppliers, for our wide range and science backed products.”
Microbiome concepts
There is greater awareness and understanding of the microbiome and its role in human health among consumers and governments and this has led to significant growth forecasts for the human microbiome products market, the company explains.
In addition, demand for products that support the prevention and management of chronic lifestyle disorders (such as hypercholesterolemia, obesity, and diabetes) have enormous potential “driven by macro environmental factors”, including an ageing population, rising medical costs, a public health policy shift towards disease prevention.
OptiBiotix wants to take advantage of these trends and make the benefits of human microbiome modulation, and its pipeline of products, more commercially available. These interests currently include 65 patents and over 28 trademarks.
Microbiome technology
OptiBiotix has designed three main screening programmes to identify and develop technologies that modulate the activity of the human microbiome.
The three programmes are used to develop commercial products that address different health issues, including metabolic syndrome and diabetes, systemic low-grade inflammation, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and high cholesterol.
OptiBiome is a technology platform that develops microbiome modulators for proprietary formulations to prevent and manage chronic lifestyle diseases; OptiScreen screens for microbial metabolic pathways for targeted probiotics, and OptiBiotic generates oligosaccharides for targeted prebiotics.
All product development underpinned by strong science and supported by human studies to deliver quality ingredients.
Products include SlimBiome (weight management), CholBiome (cardiovascular health), SweetBiotix (low calorie sugar alternative), and WellBiome (promoting gut health).
BRC Profile
The BRC represents the UK retail industry and members have to meet stringent food safety standards. Applications for quality ratings are considered based on all aspects of food safety management systems and internationally accepted best practice to ascertain the safety and quality of products.
The association conforms to the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) benchmark, which means it is recognised by many of the world’s largest retailers, such as Tesco and Walmart.
Members deliver an estimated €215bn (£180bn) in retail sales each year and include over 170 major retailers, as well as several industry trade associations.
