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'Friendly Bacteria Improve Health' Segment Broadcasts On The National Medical Report

Posted on: Thursday, 4 December 2008, 07:00 CST

- Millions of Americans will be able to learn about the health benefits of probiotics on public television -

TORRANCE, Calif., Dec. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Yakult USA Inc., the North American business of global leader and probiotics pioneer, Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd., is pleased to announce that it will broadcast an educational segment entitled "Friendly bacteria improve health," via the National Medical Report on U.S. public television. Hosted by famed TV journalist Mr. Hugh Downs, the 4-minute interstitial program challenges viewers to understand that bacteria, which are traditionally thought to be bad, are able to be beneficial to human health. Last year, the company did a major launch in the U.S. of its world-renowned consumer product beverage Yakult, which contains around 8 billion good bacteria, also known as probiotics. This public television broadcast is intended to reach 40 million households and help educate Americans who may not know about the health benefits of probiotics.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070911/YAKULTLOGO)

"It has been demonstrated that Yakult's exclusive probiotic strain, Lactobacillus casei Shirota, can survive the passage through the gastrointestinal tract and keep a healthy balance of gut microbiota," says Dr. Tomoyuki Sako, Senior Research Scientist at the Yakult Central Institute for Microbiological Research. "This is believed to be the reason why L. casei Shirota may help regulate the digestive tract and modulate the immune system."

The National Medical Report segment will air for the duration of next year on more than 150 public television stations in 200 regions across the United States. A shorter version sans Mr. Downs aired November 12 on Discovery Health, the cable network whose primary content is health and science. This version is available for viewing at www.yakultusa.com/video/. In addition, more than 200 cities abroad will have the opportunity to watch Yakult's special segment via Voice of America/WorldNet networks in 2009, potentially reaching an additional 96 million viewers.

Yakult U.S.A. Inc., a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd., is headquartered in Torrance, CA. The Yakult Company produces the daily probiotic drink Yakult, one of the world's leading probiotic beverages sold in more than 30 countries and regions. Consumption of the petite probiotic dairy drink exceeds 25 million bottles daily. Yakult was originally produced by microbiologist Dr. Minoru Shirota in 1935 in Japan. Scientists all over the world continue to confirm and expand knowledge regarding the benefits of probiotics and Yakult. Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd. was established in Japan in 1955 and is regarded as the world's pioneer of probiotics.

SOURCE Yakult U.S.A. Inc.

Source: PR Newswire

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