Align
Comprehensive Brand Analysis
Fast Facts
Company History & Milestones
• 2009: Launch of Align probiotic supplement in U.S. market. ([Empr][1])
• 2017: P&G class-action settlement for alleged false advertising of Align claims (~$30 million). ([Top Class Actions][3])
• 2022: P&G blog highlights Align as the #1 doctor/gastroenterologist recommended probiotic brand with over 20 years of research. ([Procter & Gamble][2])
Product & Manufacturing Profile
Core Products
N/A
Manufacturing Model
Manufactured by P&G or its contract partners; the brand website indicates the capsules are formulated for potency, shelf stability, and do not require refrigeration. ([Align Probiotics][5])
Quality Certifications
The brand emphasizes “DNA tested to ensure it contains our unique strain” and “guaranteed potency”. ([Amazon][8]) Specific facility certifications (e.g., NSF, USP) are not prominently enumerated in consumer-facing pages.
Third-Party Testing
The brand claims DNA testing of each lot to verify the presence of the strain. ([Align Probiotics][5]) However, publicly accessible full third-party analytical reports or lot-by-lot COAs are not clearly found in my review.
Transparency
Ingredient Sourcing
Product FAQ indicates the only probiotic strain found in Align is Bifidobacterium 35624™, and the product is vegetarian, gluten-free, soy-free. ([Align Probiotics][9]) Country of origin of raw materials and detailed sourcing practices are not extensively published in consumer-facing materials.
Published Testing
While the brand claims research backing (20+ years) and DNA testing of lots, independent publications examining probiotic product label accuracy included Align as one investigated brand. ([PMC][10]) The ingoing class-action settlement indicates some claims had insufficient substantiation. ([Top Class Actions][3])
Sustainability
The brand via P&G has environmental/sustainability commitments (on corporate site) though specific packaging or supply chain sustainability information specific to Align is limited in the consumer-product site.
Trust Score
Align has strong brand recognition, is owned by a major consumer goods company (P&G), is backed by a specific probiotic strain with research, and is recommended by specialists reportedly. The brand clearly communicates product formats, ingredient, and usage. On the other hand, transparency is somewhat limited regarding raw material sourcing and public access to third-party COAs, and the brand has a documented legal/advertising settlement which warrants caution. For these reasons the trust score is moderately high but not at the maximum.
Sources
- Align Official Site – “24/7 Digestive Support Probiotic Supplement” – [https://www.alignprobiotics.com/en-us/products/probiotics-digestive-support/probiotic-supplement](https://www.alignprobiotics.com/en-us/products/probiotics-digestive-support/probiotic-supplement) ([Align Probiotics][5])
- P&G Blog – “Meet the P&G Scientist Behind Align’s Wellness Innovations” – [https://us.pg.com/blogs/innovation-series-align-scientist/](https://us.pg.com/blogs/innovation-series-align-scientist/) ([Procter & Gamble][2])
- Irish Times – “Probiotic product from Cork company launches in US stores” – [https://www.irishtimes.com/business/probiotic-product-from-cork-company-launches-in-us-stores-1.762371](https://www.irishtimes.com/business/probiotic-product-from-cork-company-launches-in-us-stores-1.762371) ([The Irish Times][4])
- TopClassActions – “P&G Settles Align Probiotic False Advertising Class Action for $30M” – [https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/pg-settles-align-probiotic-false-advertising-class-action-30m/](https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/pg-settles-align-probiotic-false-advertising-class-action-30m/) ([Top Class Actions][3])
- “Analysis of the microbial content of probiotic products” (PMC) – [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10208119/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10208119/) ([PMC][10])
Featured Ingredients
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