The Colony Count Illusion: A Pharmacist's Checklist for Probiotics That Reach the Gut Alive
The billions of CFU printed on a probiotic label describe a number at a moment in time, not a guarantee of what survives shipping, shelf life, and stomach acid. This guide breaks down what the count actually means, how formulation and storage change the outcome, and which questions pharmacy staff should be prepared to answer before a customer buys.