Dear Colleagues,

The role of probiotics is now clear in determining or positively influencing the state of health of the consumer through a measured and targeted supply. The scientific world has been studying the effect of microorganisms on human health for about 50 years. In recent years, it has been established that an excess intake of these microorganisms can also lead to negative alterations in the microbiota with a decrease in the health of the consumer.

Furthermore, the shelf-life of probiotics is ensured only through adequate refrigeration; thus, the use of these should be limited to only certain specific categories of goods.

In the last twenty years, there has been an exponential increase in the number of scientific works on the subject of “New Probiotics”, with an evident preference in the last decade for the term “postbiotic”.

In the first months of 2021, Nature Review-Gastroenteroly & Hepatology (https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.1038/s41575-021-00440-6) published an excellent review, which many disagree with, defining a consensus statement on postbiotics by a group of colleagues within the scope of the International Scientific Association of Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP). The panel of colleagues stated that "Effective postbiotics must contain inactivated microbial cells or cell components, with or without metabolites, that contribute to observed health benefits”.

This group of colleagues also highlighted evidence of the health-promoting effects of postbiotics, levels of evidence required to meet the stated definition, safety, and implications for stakeholders in the scientific literature.

This Special Issue aims to contribute to the excellent work carried out in the review published in Nature Review, attempting to add both scientific and commercial evidence to strengthen and broaden the definition of postbiotics, mainly to the food sector but also to other industrial sectors (i.e., nutraceutical, cosmetical, pharmaceutical), as well as clarifying, if possible, the effect that the different technological processes used to inactivate microorganisms have on the beneficial characteristics of the postbiotic.

Prof. Dr. Roberto Nigro
Prof. Dr. Andrea Budelli
Guest Editors

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• probiotic
• postbiotic
• microbiota
• human health
• beneficial characteristics