CDS22-formula | The Original De Simone Formulation UK Probiotic (112B CFU) | 20 Cap Pack
CDS22-formula | The Original De Simone Formulation UK Probiotic (112B CFU) | 20 Cap Pack
CDS22-formula is the original 8-strain De Simone Formulation, supplied as 20 vegetable capsules, with 112 billion live bacteria (CFU) in every capsule.
It is the same formulation that was sold under the VSL#3 brand until 2016 and the Vivomixx brand in the EU and UK until 2025. The identity is carried by the eight strains and their NCIMB deposit codes, not by the brand name. Here is the documented history:
Trademark note: VSL#3® is a trademark of Actial Srl; Vivomixx® is a trademark of Mendes SA; Visbiome® is a trademark of ExeGi Pharma. CDS22-formula is independent of and not affiliated with, endorsed by, or distributed by these companies. Brand names above are stated as historical fact for identification only.
At a glance
- Format: 20 vegetable (HPMC) capsules per pack
- Live bacteria: 112 billion CFU per capsule, across 8 strains
- Strain identity: 8 strains with NCIMB deposit codes (full list below)
- Formulation: the De Simone Formulation (sold as VSL#3 until 2016, Vivomixx until 2025)
- Suitable for: vegetarians · gluten-free · no preservatives or synthetic sweeteners
- Storage: refrigerate +2°C to +8°C (stable to 25°C for up to one week)
- Price & dispatch: £17.90 inc. VAT · cold-chain shipped from our Lancashire facility
Strain composition (per capsule)
| Strain | NCIMB code | CFU per capsule |
|---|---|---|
| Streptococcus thermophilus | NCIMB 30438 | 58 billion |
| Lactobacillus acidophilus | NCIMB 30442 | 9 billion |
| Lactobacillus plantarum | NCIMB 30437 | 9 billion |
| Lactobacillus paracasei | NCIMB 30439 | 9 billion |
| Lactobacillus helveticus | NCIMB 30440 | 9 billion |
| Bifidobacterium breve | NCIMB 30441 | 6 billion |
| Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis | NCIMB 30435 | 6 billion |
| Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis | NCIMB 30436 | 6 billion |
| Total live bacteria per capsule | 112 billion | |
Full ingredients: mixture of lactic ferments (the 8 strains listed above); bulking agent: microcrystalline cellulose; capsule shell: hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (vegetable); anti-caking agents: fatty acids, magnesium salts of fatty acids. Gluten-free. Contains no preservatives or synthetic sweeteners.
Key features
- 112 billion CFU per capsule — 8 strains, each identified by its NCIMB deposit code
- The original De Simone Formulation (sold as VSL#3 until 2016, Vivomixx until 2025)
- Vegetable HPMC capsule — suitable for vegetarians; gluten-free
- No preservatives and no synthetic sweeteners
- Cold-chain handled and dispatched from our temperature-controlled Lancashire facility
- Authorised UK distributor of CDS22-formula — UK dispatch, no import or customs charges
Cold-chain handling
This is a live-culture product. It is transported refrigerated from the manufacturer to our temperature-controlled facility in Lancashire and dispatched cold-chain protected to your door. Keep it refrigerated at +2°C to +8°C; it remains stable at room temperature (up to 25°C) for up to one week, which covers normal transit. See our cold-chain delivery information.
Choosing the right format
The 112 billion capsule is the everyday format. If you want a higher per-serving count or a non-capsule option, or you're buying for a child, these may suit better:
- CDS22-formula 450 billion sachets (12-pack) — higher count per serving, powder format
- CDS22-formula Infant Drops — for babies and young children
- All CDS22-formula products — full range
Background reading: What happened to Vivomixx in the UK? · VSL#3 alternative UK · De Simone Formulation reference
How to take
Adults: 1 to 4 capsules daily, preferably before meals, with water. Do not exceed the recommended daily dose. Keep refrigerated. Children's dosing is set out in the manufacturer Patient Information Sheet; for babies and young children see CDS22-formula Infant Drops.
Frequently asked questions
What is CDS22-formula?
CDS22-formula is a high-count, multi-strain live bacteria food supplement. Each vegetable capsule contains 112 billion CFU across 8 named strains, identified by their NCIMB strain codes. A pack contains 20 capsules. It is the current brand name for the De Simone Formulation, the 8-strain mixture sold as VSL#3 until 2016 and as Vivomixx until 2025.
Is CDS22-formula the same as Vivomixx?
CDS22-formula contains the same 8-strain De Simone Formulation, identified by the NCIMB strain codes on the label, that was sold under the Vivomixx brand in the EU and UK until 2025. Identity is best confirmed by the strain list rather than by brand name alone. Vivomixx is a registered trademark of Mendes SA. CDS22-formula is independent of and not affiliated with, endorsed by, or distributed by Mendes SA.
What happened to Vivomixx in the UK?
Vivomixx was the European and UK brand name for the De Simone Formulation from 2016. In 2025 the formulation was rebranded as CDS22-formula, which is the version now supplied in the UK. The 8-strain composition and NCIMB strain identity are unchanged. Vivomixx is a registered trademark of Mendes SA; no affiliation exists.
Is CDS22-formula a VSL#3 alternative?
The De Simone Formulation was sold under the VSL#3 brand until 2016. A US federal court found that products sold as VSL#3 after 2016 are a different formulation, produced by a separate party that we do not supply. CDS22-formula carries the original 8-strain De Simone Formulation. VSL#3 is a registered trademark of Actial Srl; CDS22-formula is not affiliated with it.
What is the De Simone Formulation?
The De Simone Formulation is an 8-strain live bacteria mixture developed by Professor Claudio De Simone in the early 1990s. It was sold under the VSL#3 brand until 2016, then under the Vivomixx brand in the EU and UK and the Visbiome brand in the US and Canada, and is supplied in the UK today as CDS22-formula. The strains are identified by NCIMB deposit codes.
Which strains are in CDS22-formula, and at what CFU?
Each capsule contains 112 billion CFU: Streptococcus thermophilus NCIMB 30438 (58 billion), Lactobacillus acidophilus NCIMB 30442 (9 billion), Lactobacillus plantarum NCIMB 30437 (9 billion), Lactobacillus paracasei NCIMB 30439 (9 billion), Lactobacillus helveticus NCIMB 30440 (9 billion), Bifidobacterium breve NCIMB 30441 (6 billion), and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis NCIMB 30435 and NCIMB 30436 (6 billion each).
Is CDS22-formula suitable for vegetarians?
Yes. The capsule shell is hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), a vegetable capsule, so the product is suitable for vegetarians. It is also gluten-free and contains no preservatives or synthetic sweeteners.
Why does CDS22-formula need to be kept refrigerated?
CDS22-formula contains live bacteria, and refrigeration at +2°C to +8°C maintains the stated count over the product's shelf life. It stays stable at room temperature up to 25°C for up to one week, which covers transit. We ship it cold-chain protected from our temperature-controlled Lancashire facility.
How many capsules are in a pack and how do I take them?
A pack contains 20 vegetable capsules. The manufacturer direction for adults is 1 to 4 capsules daily, preferably before meals, taken with water. Do not exceed the recommended daily dose. Keep refrigerated.
How is CDS22-formula delivered in the UK?
Orders are dispatched cold-chain protected from our temperature-controlled facility in Lancashire via Royal Mail 24 or DPD, to all of the UK including Northern Ireland. Because it ships within the UK, there are no import or customs charges.
Product details: CDS22-formula · 20 vegetable (HPMC) capsules · 112 billion CFU per capsule · 8 strains with NCIMB codes · the original De Simone Formulation · authorised UK distributor of CDS22-formula · £17.90 inc. 20% VAT.
VSL#3® is a registered trademark of Actial Srl. Vivomixx® is a registered trademark of Mendes SA. Visbiome® is a registered trademark of ExeGi Pharma. CDS22-formula is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or distributed by these companies. Historical brand names are used for identification and factual continuity only.