Microbial starter cultures. More specifically, a method for preparing a microbial culture such as a lactic acid bacteria (LAB) starter culture wherein at least one microbial strain such as a lactic acid bacteria and at least one inactivated yeast strain is inoculated in a culture medium.

An invention directed to a process and device for electrically heating and preparing pasta filata type cheeses. The ohmic heating process of this invention is introduced after separation of initial curd from whey, as heated stretching is initiated to create nascent pasta filata cheese fibers. An apparatus is devised to receive the newly formed curd mass and to provide contact of the mass with an electric coupler that channels electric current through the conductive cheese mass as it is concurrently stretched. The features of this device include an electrically charged element, a grounding element and a texturizing tool.

An invention directed to a process and device for electrically heating and preparing pasta filata type cheeses. The ohmic heating process of this invention is introduced after separation of initial curd from whey, as heated stretching is initiated to create nascent pasta filata cheese fibers. An apparatus is devised to receive the newly formed curd mass and to provide contact of the mass with an electric coupler that channels electric current through the conductive cheese mass as it is concurrently stretched. The features of this device include an electrically charged element, a grounding element and a texturizing tool.

Embodiments may include a method of making a cheese shape. The method may include providing a cheese-shaping system. The cheese-shaping system may include at least a first chilled roller belt. The method may also include supplying a cheese mass in molten form to the first chilled roller belt. A cheese sheet may then be formed on the first chilled roller belt. The method may further include cooling the cheese sheet through contact with the first chilled roller belt. In addition, the method may include forming and removing the cheese shape from the cooled cheese sheet. Furthermore, the method may include applying a liquid application to the cheese shape.

The multiple embodiments described herein comprise the genome of a probiotic Bifidobacterium longum bifidobacteria strain and genes encoded by the genome. Various novel Bifidobacterium longum are described.

Disclosed herein is a method for harvesting amylose host material comprising enzymatically treating starch after the starch has been chemically modified to uniformly insert a steric hindrance substituent.

This invention provides an IFN inducer comprising, as an active ingredient, lactic acid bacteria and capable of inducing IFN production, an immunopotentiating agent or prophylactic agent against virus infection comprising such inducer, and a food or drink product comprising such IFN inducer and having IFN-inducing activity, immunopotentiating activity, or prophylactic activity against virus infection. The agent for inducing IFN production comprises, as active ingredients, lactic acid bacteria that can activate plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) and promote IFN production, such as Lactococcus garvieae NBRC100934, Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris JCM16167, Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris NBRC100676, Lactococcus lactis subsp. hordniae JCM1180, Lactococcus lactis subsp. hordniae JCM11040, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis NBRC12007, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis NRIC1150, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis JCM5805, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis JCM20101, Leuconostoc lactis NBRC12455, Leuconostoc lactis NRIC1540, Pediococcus damnosus JCM5886, or Streptococcus thermophilus TA-45.

A container is disclosed that is used to from a block of cheese having a brand marking. The container has dividers located on an internal side of a sidewall of the container. The block of cheese may be divided into slices of cheese where a slice of cheese has a brand marking.

A container is disclosed that is used to from a block of cheese having a brand marking. The container has dividers located on an internal side of a sidewall of the container. The block of cheese may be divided into slices of cheese where a slice of cheese has a brand marking.

This invention provides an IFN inducer comprising, as an active ingredient, lactic acid bacteria and capable of inducing IFN production, an immunopotentiating agent or prophylactic agent against virus infection comprising such inducer, and a food or drink product comprising such IFN inducer and having IFN-inducing activity, immunopotentiating activity, or prophylactic activity against virus infection. The agent for inducing IFN production comprises, as active ingredients, lactic acid bacteria that can activate plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) and promote IFN production, such as Lactococcus garvieae NBRC100934, Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris JCM16167, Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris NBRC100676, Lactococcus lactis subsp. hordniae JCM1180, Lactococcus lactis subsp. hordniae JCM11040, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis NBRC12007, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis NRIC1150, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis JCM5805, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis JCM20101, Leuconostoc lactis NBRC12455, Leuconostoc lactis NRIC1540, Pediococcus damnosus JCM5886, or Streptococcus thermophilus TA-45.