November 30/White Plains, N.Y./Business Wire -- A new survey from The Dannon Company reveals that Americans are more familiar than ever with probiotics -- live microorganisms which, when consumed in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host. The benefits are due, in large part, to the effects of these so-called "friendly" bacteria on different intestinal functions.
The annual benchmarking survey, which interviewed 2,000 Americans ages 18 and older, tracks awareness and perceptions of probiotics. It shows that nearly two-thirds of Americans are familiar with the term “probiotics,” up from about half in 2009. Currently, 45% of Americans consider themselves very or somewhat knowledgeable on the subject, compared to 36% in 2009. In addition, the survey reveals that Americans are making health-conscious decisions about the foods they eat, with six in 10 saying they have made food purchases driven by health concerns.