Heat treated Bifidobacterium lactis NCC 2818 reduces the symptoms of allergies in different groups of patients, such as allergies originating from food allergens in young children, or infants, and food, respiratory and cutaneous allergens in children, adults and household pets. The heat treated Bifidobacterium lactis NCC 2818 may be administered alone or in a composition. A reduction of allergy symptoms has been measured, in vivo, in a mouse allergy model.