Correction: Taha et al. Assessing Bacterial Viability and Label Accuracy in Human and Poultry Probiotics Sold in the United Kingdom. Microorganisms 2025, 13, 1933
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1
School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
2
Microbiology Research Department, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne NE7 7DN, UK
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
In the original publication [1], there was a mistake in the column “Observed Viable Plate Counts (Mean ± SD)” of Table 2. Details and viable counts of commercial poultry probiotic products and Table 3. Details and viable counts of commercial human probiotic products as published. The SD values were presented in a truncated format and should appear as full SD values. The corrected tables appear below.
Table 2.
Details and viable counts of commercial poultry probiotic products.
Table 2.
Details and viable counts of commercial poultry probiotic products.
Product Code
Species Declared on the Label
Declared Label Total (CFU/g)
MALDI-TOF MS ID 2
Observed Viable Plate Counts (Mean ± SD) 3
P3
Bacillus subtilis
2.5 × 107
Bacillus spp.
1.375 × 107 ± 2.06 × 106
P4
Bacillus subtilis
3 × 108
Bacillus spp.
1.900 × 108 ± 1.82 × 107
P5
Bacillus subtilis
2 × 109
Bacillus spp.
1.400 × 1010 ± 2.58 × 109
P9
Bifidobacterium animalis
Ratio 1 3/10
Bifidobacterium animalis
1.300 × 108 ± 2.58 × 107
Lactobacillus salivarius
Ratio 1/10
Ligilactobacillus salivarius
3.200 × 107 ± 3.65 × 106
Enterococcus faecium
Ratio 6/10
Enterococcus faecium
1.055 × 109 ± 4.43 × 107
Total bacteria
1 × 109
Total bacteria
1.212 × 109 ± 4.47 × 107
P10
Enterococcus faecium
2 × 1010
Enterococcus faecium
5.800 × 1010 ± 4.54 × 109
P11
Bacillus subtilis
2 × 108
Bacillus spp.
5.950 × 108 ± 3.10 × 107
P12
Bifidobacterium animalis
Ratio 1 3/10
Bifidobacterium animalis
1.080 × 107 ± 1.48 × 106
Lactobacillus salivarius
Ratio 1/10
Ligilactobacillus salivarius
1.375 × 106 ± 2.21 × 105
Enterococcus faecium
Ratio 6/10
Enterococcus faecium
5.300 × 108 ± 4.32 × 107
Total bacteria
2 × 108
Total bacteria
5.418 × 108 ± 4.22 × 107
1 For products P9 and P12, the manufacturer declared the total CFU per gram of product but did not specify individual CFU counts for each bacterial species. Instead, the label listed each species as a ratio of the total bacterial population. 2 Identification of isolates by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry. 3 Mean ± standard deviation per gram. Observed means are based on n = 3 replicates for multi-species products and n = 4 for single-species products.
Table 3.
Details and viable counts of commercial human probiotic products.
Table 3.
Details and viable counts of commercial human probiotic products.
Product Code
Form
Species Declared on the Label
Declared Label Total (CFU/Form 1)
MALDI-TOF MS ID 3
Observed Viable Plate Counts (Mean ± SD) 4
P1
Tablets
Lactobacillus acidophilus
2 × 1011
NA
No CFU detected 2
P2
Capsule
Lactobacillus acidophilus
ND 5
Lactobacillus acidophilus
3.483 × 109 ± 2.76 × 108
Bifidobacterium animalis
ND
Bifidobacterium animalis
6.533 × 108 ± 3.51 × 107
Bifidobacterium bifidum
ND
Total bacteria
1 × 1010
Total bacteria
4.137 × 109 ± 2.96 × 108
P6
Capsules
Lactobacillus acidophilus
ND
Lactobacillus acidophilus
3.300 × 109 ± 1.00 × 108
Lactobacillus salivarius
ND
Lactobacillus salivarius
2.067 × 106 ± 4.61 × 105
Bifidobacterium animalis
ND
Bifidobacterium animalis
2.100 × 107 ± 2.00 × 106
Lactobacillus Bulgaricus
ND
Total bacteria
3 × 109
Total bacteria
3.320 × 109 ± 1.01 × 108
P7
Capsules
Lactobacillus acidophilus
ND
Lactobacillus acidophilus
5.667 × 109 ± 3.05 × 108
Bifidobacterium bifidum
ND
Bifidobacterium bifidum
8.100 × 108 ± 4.35 × 107
Total bacteria
1 × 1010
Total bacteria
6.477 × 109 ± 3.36 × 108
P8
Chewable Tablets
Lactobacillus acidophilus
ND
Lactobacillus acidophilus
5.533 × 108 ± 1.52 × 107
Bifidobacterium animalis
ND
Bifidobacterium animalis
2.800 × 107 ± 1.00 × 106
Total bacteria
1 × 109
Total bacteria
5.813 × 108 ± 1.56 × 107
1 Per form (capsule or tablet, as specified in the “Form” column, except for P1, where label showed counts per gram). 2 For product P1, viability testing was conducted using two sample types: (i) a single tablet, and (ii) a composite of seven tablets equivalent to 1 g, as the label declared viable count per gram. No colony growth was observed in either case on any agar medium. 3 Identification of isolates by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. 4 Mean ± standard deviation per form. Observed means are based on n = 3 replicates for multi-species products and n = 4 for single-species products. 5 ND = Not declared on label; the manufacturer provided a total count but did not specify counts for individual species.
The authors state that the scientific conclusions are unaffected. This correction was approved by the Academic Editor. The original publication has also been updated.
Reference
Taha, M.W.; Fenwick, D.J.C.; Marrs, E.C.L.; Chaudhry, A.S. Assessing Bacterial Viability and Label Accuracy in Human and Poultry Probiotics Sold in the United Kingdom. Microorganisms2025, 13, 1933. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Scilit] [PubMed]
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