We don’t know much about our gut microbiomes, but there is clear evidence that prebiotic dietary fiber feeds the “good” bugs, producing beneficial short-chain fatty acid metabolites. On the other hand, off-the-shelf probiotics are taking a “kitchen sink” approach, introducing random cocktails of bacteria strains with the hope of some positive outcome. In a 2018 Cell paper, researchers from the Weizmann Institute discovered that in order for probiotics to have a positive effect on humans, they must be tailored to their existing gut bacteria compositions. On the other hand, prebiotic fiber has no such limitations. Last week, biotech startup ZBiotics launched its second probiotic that has been genetically engineered to convert sugar into a steady stream of fiber throughout the day. 95% of Americans are fiber deficient, with the average person getting about half of their recommended daily 25-30g fiber intake. This week, HNGRY sat down with founder and CEO Zack Abbott to dive deeper into the consumer and scientific sides of the product.

“There is a $40bn and growing fiber and gut health market. Unfortunately, for the solutions that exist, it’s hard to see what they are doing. You’re taking a crapshoot,” explained Abbott. “We have an opportunity to provide a specific and clear mechanism of action. We can explain that to people easily.”