MORTON GROVE, ILL. — Fermented dairy manufacturer Lifeway Foods, Inc.’s newest product delivers more than probiotics. The kefir maker revealed its latest beverage innovation includes a boost of collagen, too.

Lifeway Probiotic Smoothie + Collagen, scheduled to launch in December, is lactose-free and made with kefir cultures.

The company said each of the four debut flavors – Matcha Latte, Berry Blast, Tropical Fruit and Plain – features 5 grams of collagen per serving, which may support skin hydration, elasticity and smoothness, as well as joint health.

As functional fermented beverages, the new smoothies also help support a healthy microbiome, Lifeway noted, explaining that kefir naturally provides nutrients such as vitamins A, B and D, essential fatty acids, and protein. Lifeway said the products take advantage of 12 live and active cultures, and 25-30 billion beneficial colony forming units.

The combination of kefir nutrients and collagen, Lifeway added, supports the gut-skin axis and overall health.

"The benefits of kefir have been one of the best-kept secrets in the beauty, wellness and celebrity industries for years," Lifeway president and chief executive officer Julie Smolyansky said.

“The beauty hack can be credited to the ancient Egyptians,” Smolyansky said. “Cleopatra used to bathe in kefir to help soothe and smooth her skin. The trend has since evolved for celebrities, where they have seen a larger impact by consuming the kefir. Margot Robbie worked with skin expert Jasmina Vico on the Barbie movie to achieve her natural movie star glow on air. Once it went viral that Vico recommends fermented foods, like kefir, as a key component in skincare routines, we tracked a surge of consumer interest for kefir's holistic benefits and knew the market was ready for our Probiotic Smoothie + Collagen."

The company shared that it began developing the new collagen-packed product in 2021. Lifeway expects the probiotic smoothies to arrive at select independent and specialty stores by the end of the year.