Next-generation postbiotics: Yarrowia lipolytica yeast as a Novel Food
The supplement market is shifting from probiotics to postbiotics — stable, vegan ingredients easy to use in food. We explain what postbiotics are, why Yarrowia lipolytica is a Novel Food, and how to use the PostBione™ line in a product.
What postbiotics are
In simplified terms, you can arrange three generations of microbiome-supporting ingredients:
- Probiotics — live cultures of microorganisms.
- Prebiotics — nutrients for beneficial microflora.
- Postbiotics — ingredients derived from microorganisms and their metabolites, obtained by fermentation, without live cells.
The absence of live cultures is a practical advantage: postbiotics are more stable, easier to standardize and better withstand processing and storage. This means they can be used not only in capsules but also in food — from yogurts to bread.
Yarrowia lipolytica as a Novel Food
Yarrowia lipolytica is a yeast species used in food biotechnology. Postbiotic yeast of this species falls into the novel food (Novel Food) category under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 — i.e. ingredients not widely consumed in the European Union before 1997, which require authorization before being placed on the market.
For a brand owner, this means two things: the ingredient is genuinely innovative and hard to copy, while also requiring a deliberate regulatory approach. Producing with a manufacturer that has its own facility and knows the Novel Food framework simplifies this path.
The PostBione™ line
Onesano offers Yarrowia lipolytica postbiotics in the PostBione™ line. The table below organizes the variants and their roles.
| Variant | Ingredient | Areas of support |
|---|---|---|
| PostBione™-β | beta-glucan | immunity, gut health, metabolism, skin/hair/nails |
| PostBione™-Se | organic selenium | thyroid, immunity, heart, antioxidant protection |
| PostBione™-Cr | organic chromium | blood-sugar regulation, metabolism |
The ingredients are fully vegan and come from natural microbial fermentation. Their formulation advantage is compatibility with a wide range of products — from supplements to fortified food.
Applications in products
Yarrowia lipolytica postbiotics can be used both in classic supplements and in functional food:
- Dietary supplements — capsules, tablets, powders and liquids targeting immunity, gut or metabolism.
- Fortified food — yogurts, bread, spices, coffee, cocoa, spreads.
- Protein and culinary products — as a protein source, flavor enhancer or thickener.
This opens the door to products hard for competitors to copy — and such a differentiator has real marketing value. How an innovative ingredient fits into the quote and timeline is described in our article on the process and costs of contract manufacturing.
Frequently asked questions
What are postbiotics?
Postbiotics are functional ingredients derived from microorganisms and their metabolites, obtained through fermentation. Unlike probiotics, they contain no live cultures, which makes them easier to stabilize and use in food.
Why is Yarrowia lipolytica a Novel Food?
Postbiotic Yarrowia lipolytica yeast falls into the novel food (Novel Food) category under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283, because it was not widely consumed in the EU before 1997 and requires authorization.
Does Onesano manufacture with Yarrowia lipolytica to order?
Yes. Onesano owns a facility for producing postbiotic Yarrowia lipolytica yeast (the PostBione™ line), unique on a global scale, and uses it in contract manufacturing of supplements and functional food.
Build a product based on postbiotics
We'll use our own Yarrowia lipolytica facility and design a formula for your brand. See also the full knowledge base on this technology.
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