Facts about Streptococcus thermophilus (TH-4®)
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Identified as Streptococcus thermophilus
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Originates from Chr. Hansen’s collection of dairy cultures
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TH-4® is a registered trademark of Chr. Hansen A/S
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Used worldwide since around 1981 as a traditional starter culture for fermented food and recently also in food supplements for children, with no reported consumer illness or injury
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Tested in clinical studies infants to adults, with no reported serious adverse events
Well-documented strain
Streptococcus thermophilus (TH-4®) has been used for a long time and is regarded as safe based on its long history of use. The strain is considered Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US. In Europe, Streptococcus thermophilus has been granted Qualified Presumption of Safety (QPS) status since 2007 by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) – a status granted on species level.