The Science Behind the Crunch
At Fresh Ferments, we don’t just talk about live cultures — we send our jars to the lab. Our Crafted Purple Sauerkraut has initially been tested in September by Southern Microbiological Services Ltd, a UKAS-accredited lab, and the results were clear:
Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB): 1.18 million cfu/g — that’s colony-forming units per gram, and it means your gut is getting a serious dose of probiotic goodness. The more there is the better the chance of those probiotics surviving the journey.
Yeast & Mould: Both measured at < 20 cfu/g, confirming a clean, safe ferment with no spoilage risk.
(We’ve tested for LAB this time but we will be looking more closely at the true diversity of microbes in later tests)
Why LAB Matters
Lactic Acid Bacteria are the unsung heroes of gut health. They help:
Balance your microbiome
Support digestion and nutrient absorption
Produce beneficial compounds like GABA, which may calm the nervous system
And yes — we’re exploring GABA testing next for our iBiome platform.
Studies That Back It Up
Here are some peer-reviewed papers that support our findings and philosophy:
Microbial and Metabolic Characterization of Artisanal Sauerkraut Shows LAB dominance and probiotic potential in small-batch ferments.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.929738/full
Biochemical Changes During Sauerkraut Fermentation Tracks LAB succession and GABA production — perfect for future product storytelling.
Influence of Probiotic Strains on Sauerkraut Highlights antioxidant activity and sensory impact — flavor meets function.
What’s Next
We’re building iBiome — a platform for citizen science, lab-verified nutrition, and microbiome exploration. Want to be part of it?
Join the Journey

