Some people cringe when they think of taking large pills, such as probiotic supplements. Luckily, many alternatives are now available to help them get the benefits of probiotics in foods and beverages. Powder forms of probiotics that you mix with water have been available for quite some time now, as well as probiotic yogurts and fermented foods such as Kefir. However, we now have candies and desserts on the probiotic menu.

Recently, Ganeden Biotech, Inc announced a new concoction of a dark chocolate probiotic. It's a combination of Ganeden's GanedenBC30r probiotic along with Agostoni, an Italian premium dark chocolate maker. They've designed the product to fit into retail outlets confectionary and health supplement categories. Retailers get a quality chocolate product containing up to 70 percent cocoa content along with Ganeden's probiotic.

"Consumers are increasingly demanding both premium quality chocolate and the health benefits inherent to probiotics," said Andrew Lefkowitz, president and CEO of Ganeden Biotech. "Since this product is the best of both worlds, retailers can position it as an affordable luxury."

Dr. Antonio Agostoni-head of the chocolate maker's product development team-reports that GanedenBC30r delivered "excellent results in survivability of the bacteria-for health purposes-and it does not interfere with our final premium flavor, making it an ideal functional chocolate solution."

Ganeden Biotech, Inc. is based in Cleveland, Ohio and is the largest seller of over the counter probiotic supplements in the USA though its Digestive Advantage and Sustenex probiotic brands. To extend its reach in to the food market they have licensed their GanedenBC30r for use in commercial food and beverage applications.

Agostoni Chocolate, based in Lecco, Italy has been producing premium chocolate since 1946. They are a leader in global processing of cocoa, using 20% of the global cocoa supply. It was a smart move on their part to get in on the growing probiotic market, which will only continue to see growth since more and more people are realizing the benefits of healthy bacteria.

So, if taking supplements in pill form doesn't work out too well for you, then consider a probiotic food or beverage supplement to gain the benefits of probiotics for you overall great health.