Lifeway Foods Joins BMO Harris Bank Magnificent Mile Lights Festival with ProBugs-themed Float

MORTON GROVE, Ill., Nov. 20, 2015

Available in four fabulous flavors, Cherry Lime Supernova, Grape Galaxy, Strawberry Kiwi Comet, and Peach Mango Moon, ProBugs Blast are 99 percent lactose-free, naturally gluten-free and made with USDA-certified organic milk. They're packed with 12 live and active probiotic cultures that support healthy digestion and are a good source of calcium and vitamin D.

"Having access to not just enough food, but enough high-quality, nourishing food is crucial for physical and mental growth and development," said Lifeway CEO and President Julie Smolyansky. "Too many children today – too many people – don't have access to enough nutritious food to live active, healthy lives. Our ProBugs products are an easy way to provide children with essential vitamins, minerals and probiotics. We're doing everything we can to make sure people have access to a better variety of quality food."

Taking on food waste and closing the hunger gap, especially for children, is one of Lifeway's newest initiatives. Forty percent of the food in the U.S. goes uneaten every year, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), contributing to roughly 3.3. billion tons of carbon dioxide that is released by landfills every year. "There are more than 48 million Americans who are food insecure, of which 15.3 million are children. If we reduce the amount of food we waste by just 15 percent, we could feed 25 million of those Americans every year," said Smolyansky.

"Reducing food waste and eliminating hunger starts with education," said Smolyansky. "We've partnered with local and national organizations, including Pilot Light, Common Threads and Food Corps, to provide nutrition education to children and help communities foster cultures of sustainability. We're making strides, but we have a long way to go."

You can help reduce food waste in your home and your community by taking a few small steps. Shopping locally and seasonally helps ensure less food is wasted in transportation or left rotting in fields. Composting and recycling are easy ways to cut down on the amount of food waste and packaging that end up in landfills, and knowing how to properly store and keep your food will help cut down on food spoilage. Look into fermentation or pickling, which are traditional ways of storing foods long term without artificial ingredients. Finally, reach out to your local government officials and tell them you support legislation that would provide aid to nonprofit organizations that work to end hunger in your community.

About Lifeway Foods, Inc.