NEW DELHI: You will soon have access to details of the ingredients, the exact name of the bacterial strain and other essential particulars of your favourite pro-biotic drink that your local dealer stocks. Encouraging an educated and well-informed choice of health food among consumers, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has recently formed a sub-committee that is looking at formulating a draft guideline for regulating pro-biotic food and drugs in the country. According to ICMR's pro-biotic committee chairman N. K. Ganguly, the guidelines when put in place will impose a strict product code allowing only standardised pro-biotic food products into the Indian market. Yakult Danone-India (producers of pro-biotic drinks) Managing Director Kiyoshi Oike said here over the weekend: "Regulations should be implemented fast so that consumer can make an informed choice. Also, since these products come at a slight premium, it is important that consumers get a product which has proven health benefits.' Ailments Statistics show that a third of the urban Indian population is prey to digestive disorders or lifestyle ailments. Ever increasing stress, irregular eating habits, excessive travel, indiscriminate use of antibiotics, high alcohol consumption, high intake of packaged and processed food and pollution are all factors that contribute to this alarming trend. "This is where a daily intake of pro-biotics can provide our system with friendly bacteria that helps keep the harmful ones at bay. By maintaining a healthy balance in the gut, pro-biotics enable the body to improve its own natural defence,' said Mr. Oike. While globally the pro-biotic industry stands at over 10 billion dollars, in India it is in a nascent stage. The category is growing at 35 per cent annually but at present there are no regulations in place. An industry representative said: "Most countries are in the process of formulating strict guidelines for pro-biotics. In India too there is a need today to have standardisation.'