Introduction: As China's "Dairy Capital," Hohhot is witnessing a flourishing market for lactic acid bacteria drinks. In major supermarkets across the city, a dazzling array of brands makes for a bewildering selection. Among them, the foreign brand Yakult has quietly gained popularity, quickly securing its place in Hohhot's active lactic acid bacteria drink market. Reporters noted that this live, active lactic acid bacteria drink comes in packs of five small, cute bottles, appealing to people of all ages. Why is this small Yakult so popular? How was it created? What are its health benefits? With these questions, a reporter was invited to Shanghai to visit the Yakult production base and experience firsthand the secret behind this enduring probiotic drink, which has remained popular for 80 years.
Transparent Factory: Witnessing the Birth of Yakult
During the tour of the Yakult factory, reporters witnessed firsthand the advanced technology and strict quality management contained in each small bottle. At the Shanghai Jiading factory, about 1.5 million bottles of Yakult are produced daily and then transported to various retail terminals such as supermarkets and stores through a fully enclosed cold chain system, ensuring they reach consumers in the freshest possible state. Besides water and sugar, Yakult's raw materials are all imported, especially the probiotic *Lactobacillus casei* Shirota strain, which is the core of the product's competitiveness. This strain comes from Yakult's Central Institute of Microbiology, which has nearly 300 professional researchers. This specially cultured lactic acid bacterium can effectively resist the strong acid and alkaline sterilizing effects of digestive fluids like gastric juice and bile, reaching the human intestine in an active state to regulate the balance of intestinal flora. Its scientific validity has been verified globally for 80 years since its discovery by Dr. Minoru Shirota, the founder of Yakult. It was Dr. Shirota who led his research team at the Central Institute to establish the concepts of "Intestinal Health for Longevity," "Preventive Medicine," and "Easy Enjoyment," hoping everyone could enjoy good health. It is understood that since Yakult first entered the Taiwan market in 1964, its footprint has spread to 33 countries and regions worldwide, with daily sales reaching 30 million bottles.
Additionally, reporters noted that due to its world-class production line, the Yakult factory requires far fewer staff compared to factories of a similar scale. This effectively reduces direct contact between people and the product, further ensuring food safety. Relying on advanced packaging technology and cold chain management, every bottle of Yakult is stored at a temperature of 2-10°C to ensure it remains in optimal condition. This commitment to quality is evident in the production process. Every two hours, inspectors take samples from the production line for over 120 quality checks. If even one bottle fails the test, the entire batch is discarded. Yakult builds its quality and food safety with such near-strict requirements, and this is precisely the core reason for its enduring market success.
There's a Right Way to Choose Active Lactic Acid Bacteria Drinks
According to research, the proportion of harmful bacteria in the intestines of Asians is several times the international standard, while the intake of probiotics is less than one-third of the standard. This is one of the main reasons for the high incidence of colorectal cancer in Asia. As the concept of probiotic health, centered on "preventive medicine," becomes more popular, various dairy companies have also developed probiotic or lactic acid bacteria drinks to capture market share. In addition to visiting the Yakult factory, the reporters also visited several large supermarkets in Shanghai and found that active lactic acid bacteria drinks dominate the dairy refrigerated section, with prices varying by brand and packaging. Most bottles are prominently labeled with phrases like "Contains Lactic Acid Bacteria," "300 Billion per Meal, No Pressure," and "Health Helper, Intestine's Good Friend." So, as a consumer without professional knowledge, how can one correctly choose a lactic acid bacteria drink to achieve health benefits?
It is understood that the lactic acid bacteria drinks currently on the market are of two types: live, active lactic acid bacteria milk drinks and non-live lactic acid bacteria milk drinks. A live, active drink contains living lactic acid bacteria. According to international standards, the number of live bacteria per milliliter of the product must be at least 10 million. Moreover, to maintain the activity of the bacteria, these drinks require low-temperature storage and sales, and their shelf life is usually within one month. In non-live drinks, the lactic acid bacteria are killed during the heating process of production, so their health benefits are very limited. They are generally stored and sold at room temperature and have a longer shelf life. "When purchasing these drinks, consumers must carefully check the product labels, ingredients, storage conditions, and expiration date," said Zhang Meifang, Chief Physician of the Nutrition Department at the Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. The probiotics in active lactic acid bacteria drinks can regulate the balance of intestinal flora, and a daily intake of tens of billions is generally needed to effectively improve the intestinal micro-ecosystem. For example, Yakult contains 100 million live bacteria per milliliter, and drinking one bottle after a meal is sufficient for an adult's daily needs.
High Quality: Yakult Wins Praise in Hohhot
According to statistics from the Shanghai Beverage Industry Association, Yakult has ranked first in Shanghai's lactic acid bacteria drink sales market for 10 consecutive years. With its consistent high quality and good reputation, Yakult became the leader in the lactic acid bacteria drink industry survey in the first China Customer Recommendation Index, which is guided by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and implemented by Chnbrand, the enterprise brand research center. It is the lactic acid bacteria drink brand that consumers are most willing to recommend.
"I'm finally able to buy Yakult in Hohhot!" "I no longer have to ask friends to express it from Beijing!" Since Yakult officially entered the Hohhot market this year, it has immediately attracted a great deal of attention from fans, flooding social media platforms like Weibo and WeChat moments. Yakult has lived up to expectations and is quickly welcomed by local consumers.
Every bottle of Yakult is a carefully crafted health drink produced in a safe, hygienic, and standardized environment. According to the reporter's understanding, Yakult generally adopts a principle of regional, near-distribution. The transportation process has extremely high requirements. All products are preserved and transported in a low-temperature cold chain from the factory until they are delivered to the refrigerated shelves of every supermarket and store in Hohhot. This ensures that the active lactic acid bacteria in every bottle of Yakult reach the consumer in the best possible state, ensuring the product's safety, reliability, and health. This is the creed and principle that every Yakult employee keeps in mind. In addition to providing high-quality products to the public, Yakult also continues to promote the probiotic health philosophy and science popularization activities it advocates.
By/Zhang Qiaozhen