No. Your product is fine. The ice pack is there to help keep the temperature down while your parcel is moving, but the product does not need to arrive frozen or even cold.

The manufacturer’s storage guidance confirms CDS22-formula stays stable at room temperature (up to 25°C) for up to a week, which comfortably covers UK delivery. A melted ice pack is completely normal, especially in warmer weather. Simply refrigerate it when it arrives.

Yes. CDS22-formula does not need to be cold when it reaches you. It only needs to go into the fridge once it arrives. The chilled packaging protects it in transit, and the product’s own room-temperature stability does the rest. Put it in the fridge (2°C to 8°C) and you are all set.

Yes. Normal courier delays do not affect it. Two things cover a delay:

• The packaging is designed to hold 2°C to 8°C for up to 73 hours.
• The manufacturer’s storage guidance confirms up to a week of stability at room temperature.

A day or two’s delay is well within that. Refrigerate it when it lands.

If the outer box is dented but the sachets or bottles inside are intact, the product is fine. Every sachet is individually sealed.

Only if a sachet is actually split, or a bottle is broken, should you set that unit aside. In that case, photograph it and report it on our order page and we will sort it out.

No. Each CDS22-formula sachet is individually sealed and protected from moisture. As long as the sachets are not punctured or torn, the contents are protected even if there is condensation in the parcel from the ice pack.

Belt and braces. The product is stable at room temperature for up to a week, so the ice pack is not strictly essential. We add it, along with insulated packaging, to keep conditions as good as possible in transit. It is extra protection, not a sign the product will spoil without it.

Yes. Once it arrives, put it in the fridge at 2°C to 8°C for full shelf life. Before that, a few days at room temperature in transit is fine. The sooner it goes in the fridge on arrival, the better.

No. Do not freeze it. Keep it refrigerated at 2°C to 8°C. Freezing is not recommended for the live bacteria.

A few hours in a porch, a safe place or with a neighbour will not harm it, thanks to the room-temperature stability window. Bring it in and refrigerate it as soon as you can. If it has been sitting somewhere very hot for a long period, get in touch through our order help form and we will advise.

We specialise in live probiotics. While CDS22-formula is stable for transport at room temperature, we occasionally pause dispatch during exceptional heat rather than expose live bacteria to unnecessary risk.

It is not the fastest option, but we think it is the right one. Quality comes before speed. If your order is briefly held for this reason, it is being kept in refrigeration until it is safe to send.

To keep time out of refrigeration to a minimum, we dispatch CDS22-formula Monday to Thursday only. Orders placed Friday to Sunday are held in refrigeration and sent on Monday, so they do not sit in a courier depot over the weekend.

Three quick steps:

1. Refrigerate the product.
2. Photograph the packaging if it is visibly damaged.
3. Report the issue on our order page.

Our team will look into it and arrange a suitable resolution.

Sachets: mix one sachet into a cool, non-fizzy drink, yogurt or fruit juice and take it straight away. Do not add it to hot liquids.

Capsules: adults and children aged 7 and over, 1 to 4 capsules daily before meals with water. Children aged 3 to 6, 1 to 2 daily, opened and mixed into yogurt or juice. Follow the pack and do not exceed the recommended daily dose.

Full details are on the product information sheets: sachets (PDF) and capsules (PDF).

Both are the same formulation and the same 8 strains. The difference is the live count per serving and the format:

• 450 billion sachets — the highest count per serving, a powder you mix into a cool drink or yogurt.
• 112 billion capsules — a simple daily capsule, easy for routine and travel.

It comes down to the format you prefer and the count you want per serving. See the 450 billion sachets and the 112 billion capsules.

Yes, it can be taken alongside antibiotics. Taking it a few hours after your antibiotic dose is commonly advised. If you are unsure, check with your GP or pharmacist.

There is no known issue taking it alongside other probiotics or supplements. If you are under medical supervision or taking prescribed medication, check with your GP or pharmacist first.

The capsules are suitable from age 7 (1 to 4 daily), and from age 3 to 6 by opening the capsule into yogurt or juice (1 to 2 daily).

For babies and children under 3, speak to your GP or health visitor first, and see the CDS22-formula Infant Drops, which are made for that age group.

There are no known contraindications, but always speak to your doctor or midwife before taking any supplement during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

The sachets and capsules are gluten-free, with no preservatives or synthetic sweeteners. The capsule shell is HPMC (a vegetable capsule), so the capsules are suitable for vegetarians.

We do not label the range as vegan, as not all ingredient sources are confirmed vegan. The Infant Drops may contain traces of milk. If you have a milk allergy, or you are strictly vegan, check the label on your specific product or get in touch before ordering.

CDS22-formula is generally well tolerated. Some people notice mild, temporary bloating in the first few days as their system adjusts, which usually settles. You can reduce the dose if needed. Stop use and speak to your doctor if anything unusual persists.

CDS22-formula is a food supplement, not a medicine, so we cannot promise a specific effect or timeframe. Probiotics are generally taken consistently as part of a daily routine. Take it every day as directed, store it properly, and speak to your GP if you have specific health concerns.

Keep it refrigerated at 2°C to 8°C for full shelf life. It is fine at room temperature (up to 25°C) for up to a week, which is what makes transit safe. Do not freeze it, and avoid temperatures above 25°C for long periods.

CDS22-formula is the original De Simone Formulation, an 8-strain live bacteria food supplement developed by Professor Claudio De Simone. It is supplied as 450 billion CFU sachets and 112 billion CFU capsules. The same formulation was sold under the VSL#3 brand until 2016 and the Vivomixx brand until 2025.

Yes. It is the same 8-strain De Simone Formulation that was sold under the Vivomixx brand in the UK and EU until 2025. The strains are the same, identified by their NCIMB codes on the label. Vivomixx is a registered trademark of Mendes SA; CDS22-formula is not affiliated with it.

CDS22-formula carries the original De Simone Formulation, which was sold under the VSL#3 brand until 2016. Products sold as VSL#3 after 2016 are a different formulation. VSL#3 is a registered trademark of Actial Srl; CDS22-formula is not affiliated with it. The most reliable way to match the formulation is by the strain list, not the brand name.

It is the only product in the UK and Europe carrying the original De Simone Formulation, authorised by its inventor. It is an 8-strain formulation with one of the largest bodies of published scientific literature for a single probiotic formulation.

We are the authorised UK and Ireland distributor and handle every order cold-chain. You can see the research behind the formulation here.

The sachets and capsules are gluten-free, with no preservatives or synthetic sweeteners. The Infant Drops may contain traces of milk. Always check the label on your specific product if you have an allergy.