研究發現:益生菌酸奶並非有益腸道健康
【導讀】近日歐洲監察部門卻對益生菌對人體健康的宣傳提出“質疑”，認爲益生菌益處並無科學性，對健康“毫無益處”。
Probiotic yoghurt drinks and supplements don’t live up to their promises, according to an EU watchdog. They claim to boost your immune system and help digestion. It concluded there is no scientific proof that products such as Yakult have any health benefits at all.
近些年來，“益生菌”被廣泛地添加到酸奶當中，益生菌酸奶也因對腸道免疫功能的促進作用而受到廣大消費者的喜愛。然而，近日歐洲監察部門卻對益生菌對人體健康的宣傳提出“質疑”，該部門認爲益生菌益處並無科學性，對健康“毫無益處”。
The watchdog dismissed more than 800 claims regarding the increasingly popular probiotic drinks, yoghurts and whey proteins, vitamins, supplements, ruling that suggestions the products could strengthen the body’s natural defences and reduce gut problems were either too general or could not be proven.
歐洲監察部門駁回了800個關於益生菌飲料以及酸奶對健康有益的宣傳。他們認爲廣告對益生菌有益促進腸道免疫功能以及提高免疫系統的宣傳“名不副實”，有太多數據沒有經過證實。
The supposed health benefits of probiotic goods enable manufacturers to sell them at much higher prices than normal yoghurts and milkshakes.
據悉，在奶製品銷售市場上，商家所售的標有“益生菌”字樣的酸奶價格要比普通酸奶要高。
Earlier this year, the Advertising Standards Authority watchdog banned a TV advert for Actimel, manufactured by Danone, which suggested it stopped children falling ill. It ruled that the promotion was ‘misleading’ and its claim that the drink was ‘scientifically proven to help support your kids’ defences’ was not supported.
有廣告監察部門對達能集團旗下的奶製品Actimel提出控訴，因爲他們的電視廣告宣傳說該產品“能防止兒童生病”，監察部門認爲宣傳對受衆起到了“誤導”的效果，畢竟益生菌的效果仍舊沒經過任何機構的科學認證。
Danone has subsequently dropped most of its claims that Activia yoghurts and Actimel drinks boost the immune system. But other probiotic firms claim the European watchdog has been unnecessarily rigorous.
達能集團隨後撤下了廣告中對與產品能提高免疫系統的話語。然而，其他的益生菌公司卻認爲歐洲監察局的做法太“小題大作”了。
Last night, Yakult issued a statement saying the rejected claim was just one aspect of its research. A spokesman added: ‘The claim was supported by well-designed, double-blind, placebo-controlled human studies.‘In response to the EFSA opinion, the company wishes to discuss the evaluation process and this outcome with EFSA.‘With the benefit of further guidance, the company anticipates a positive EFSA opinion in due course.’
益力多（全球最大的活性乳酸菌飲料巨頭） 發言人稱，公司會繼續關注歐盟食品安全官方網站EFSA 對益生菌的研究進展，期待益生菌有益健康的研究儘快得到證實。
