I am a bit concerned about this product as it does not state it's CFUs (Colony forming units) and states nothing about "live" cultures vs dead bacteria. It does state that it contains "4 Billion Organisms at time of Manufacture". However, this does not guarantee that these organisms are alive. The bottle also states that it should be stored in a cool, dry place. I do know that Trader Joe's looses a lot of the quality of many of their products due to their methods for transporting their products. Often their produce is old and moldy (due to not being refrigerated and sitting too long on their docks or at the store's docks before being put away correctly. I often need to return bad milk - even though the date on the carton is not yet reached.)

Therefore, I am concerned that this Probiotic product is not what it appears to be on the title. Due to the unfair labeling laws in this country it is easy for vitamin manufacturers to deceive buyers into buying products that are not really what is stated on the label. You must study the labeling laws to know how to read consumer labels on products.

I suspect that this product does not contain live cultures and that after the time of manufacture the culture dies. If you research these Probiotic products elsewhere you will find that many of them do state the CFUs and that it contains live cultures.

I would really appreciate a statement by the company to clear this. However, I do not believe that Trader Joe's is actually in the vitamin business and therefore is not concerned with being clear. I am sure that they purchase their vitamin line from a different company - and we know nothing about them. They are just a grocery store who is more concerned with their sales volume and not the quality of their vitamins. They are also not a health food store which sometimes has better quality vitamins. I have been told by people who study vitamins and supplements and by plumbers that one of the worst drain clogging substances there are - are the undissolved vitamin tablets that just pass through whole and do not actually break down in our systems. I understand that virtually all the cheap vitamins do this.

I think we are deceived by Trader Joe's low priced vitamins. We need to research farther before we deem them REAL vitamins and nutrients.