Which way to a healthy microbiome?

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Which way to a healthy microbiome?

24 Feb 2026

Lily Cota

Lily Cota is a writer, editor and photographer from Kansas City, Missouri. She graduated from Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science in English and a minor in Photography. When she’s not writing, you can find her reading fantasy novels, thrifting, trying out local coffee shops and spending time with her nieces.

KANSAS CITY, MO — Gut health is all the rage, but what exactly does that mean for consumers? And, in turn, what does it mean for manufacturers?

Consumers say they want a healthy microbiome, but they may not be totally sure what that means or what they’re willing to give up to get one. They steer toward the hearty greens and fruits without knowing the world of opportunity that awaits them in the bakery section.

According to Datassential’s 2026 Food and Beverage Trends report, more than half of consumers surveyed say that when thinking about their health in 2026, consuming more foods and beverages for gut health will be important to them. This presents an opportunity for commercial bakers, who are well-positioned to meet them at the halfway point between food science and social concept.

More consumers are becoming aware of the impact of their microbiome on overall health, but they’re not sure where to start.

Baking companies like La Brea Bakery are keeping things simple and building trust with consumers through transparency.

“Consumers are becoming more ingredient-literate and increasingly seeking brands with authenticity,” said Christine Prociv, chief growth officer at La Brea Bakery, in an exclusive interview with Commercial Baking. “La Brea Bakery is uniquely positioned here because we’ve been making sourdough the same way for more than 36 years.”

According to Harvard Health Publishing, gut diversity is important because different microorganisms may help support health in a variety of ways, including improved digestion and nutrient absorption, immune-system regulation, protection against harmful bacteria, reduced inflammation and better brain health.

Those benefits are nice, and that’s what consumers are looking for. All the “dirty details” in between? Not so much. Brands need to skip the fluff and deliver whole foods, fermented bread products and decipherable ingredient labels.

“The sourdough phenomenon validated what our consumers have increasingly been seeking: transparency, ingredient simplicity and foods that make them feel good,” Prociv said.

Brands have to find ways to stand out, and a proper digital and packaging presence with clear, intuitive language helps consumers easily digest not only the important nutrition info, but the product itself.

Take Essential Baking Co., for example. Known for its artisanal sourdough bread, Essential Baking has been around for more than 30 years. Now, the company’s breads are sporting a fresh look, clear bag and more transparent ingredient labels to meet consumer feedback for clarity in the bread aisle.

More than 20 of Essential Baking’s SKUs will soon be identifiable with a color-coding system created to guide shoppers in navigating the offerings. This helps to close the gap between consumer demand for transparency and accessible nutrition information.

Consumers know what they want: gut health.

But it’s manufacturers who can guide them to what they need, showing them how to get it in untraditional ways with new-age packaging and transparency.

As consumers look for easier and more flavorful ways to obtain a flourishing microbiome, it’s up to manufacturers and bakers to show them the way through new-age packaging, ingredient transparency and gut-healthy options beyond the produce section.