Chr. Hansen’s Business Partners Receive Prize

On May 19, 2007 four researchers from the United States, Canada and Japan were presented the new Elie Metchnikoff Prize for their respective research studies in cultures and bacteria in yogurts and other fermented milk products. In the Nutrition and Health category the Canadian research team of Dr. Gregor Reid and Prof. Andrew Bruce were the winners with a project that has served as the basis for the development of Chr. Hansen’s probiotic urogenital capsules.

On the centennial of Metchnikoff’s book the International Dairy Federation awarded 10,000 Euros to four researchers who are the scientists behind a ground-breaking study in the field of fermented milk products. The award ceremony took place in Moscow, Russia and Chr. Hansen participated both as a speaker and sponsor of the event.

In the Health and Nutrition category two well-known Canadian microbiologists, Dr. Gregor Reid and Prof. Andrew Bruce, won the award for the project that has served as the basis for the development of Chr. Hansen’s probiotic capsules for improved urogenital health. The capsules were developed in collaboration between Chr. Hansen and Dr. Reid and Prof. Bruce in the 1990’s. They have succeeded in isolating and documenting the health effects of the probiotic strains used in the product since 1973.

A fruitful cooperation

“We are very happy that Dr. Gregor Reid and Prof. Andrew Bruce received the prize,“ says Tine Westerdahl, Head of Marketing, Human Health & Nutrition, Chr. Hansen.

“It has been a great fortune for Chr. Hansen to work together with two such celebrated scientists,” she continues. “Moreover, it has also been a huge success for us to be able to launch two such fantastic probiotic strains like GR-1® and RC-14® using their company UREX Biotech as the base.”

Chr. Hansen’s products for restoring and maintaining a healthy vaginal flora has been successfully launched in several countries throughout Europe and Asia as well as in the United States, while continued steady growth in existing as well as new markets is expected.


About Prof. E. Metchnikoff

Nobel prize winner Prof. Elie Metchnikoff was the first to discuss the concept of achieving beneficial health effects through ingestion of living bacteria. His famous book The Prolongation of Life (London, William Heinemann 1907) appeared on the international scene nearly one hundred years ago. In this publication, Prof. Metchnikoff suggested that the overall longevity of certain ethnic groups was linked to their continuous extensive consumption of fermented milk products and that these products helped to maintain a good balance of the human intestinal microbiota.

The year 2007 marks the 100th anniversary of Metchnikov’s famous publication that was fundamental to the development of fermented milks and probiotics. Scientific research has established the crucial role of fermented milk products as natural sources and ideal carriers of active probiotic ingredients that are so essential for achieving an optimal balance of the microflora that thrives in a healthy digestive tract.