A bread-making improver including at least one ingredient routinely used as a bread-making improver and at least 10.sup.7 CFU per gram of microorganisms and having a pH of between 3.5 and 5 and preferably between 4 and 4.8. The improver can be obtained by dispersing the ingredient in a phase including at least 10.sup.7 CFU of microorganisms, the pH of which has been adjusted to the desired value by adding a salt having a buffer effect. The phase is preferably a leaven in liquid or pasty form or in the form of a block that can be crumbled. The improver can be kept at a temperature lower than 10 C. and preferably lower than 6 C. for several days while maintaining its stability.

Bacterial strains are provided that can be isolated from the microflora of lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium), and that are capable of increasing the antioxidant content of their growth medium. The bacteria can be used, for example, to increase the antioxidant content of various foodstuffs, as probiotics or as additives to animal feed. Antioxidant-enriched compositions produced by fermentation processes utilizing the bacteria are also provided. The antioxidant-enriched compositions can be used in the preparation of cosmetics and nutritional supplements. The antioxidant-enriched compositions also have therapeutic applications.

Bacterial strains are provided that can be isolated from the microflora of lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium), and that are capable of increasing the antioxidant content of their growth medium. The bacteria can be used, for example, to increase the antioxidant content of various foodstuffs, as probiotics or as additives to animal feed. Antioxidant-enriched compositions produced by fermentation processes utilizing the bacteria are also provided. The antioxidant-enriched compositions can be used in the preparation of cosmetics and nutritional supplements. The antioxidant-enriched compositions also have therapeutic applications.

The present invention is related to an enzyme that allows efficient removal of fructan from grain and vegetable raw material. The enzyme according to the invention produces grain and vegetable material having a fructan content significantly lower compared to that of the starting material.

The present invention relates to the solubilisation of cereal bran, for preparing compositions comprising soluble fractions of cereal bran and the use of these compositions comprising solubilised cereal bran for the preparation of food products, such as bread.

The present invention relates to the field of food production, in particular the provision of flour mixtures for the production of bakery products, pasta and bread, which are characterized by a reduced ATI content and can nevertheless be processed into doughs which meet the technical and rheological requirements of a wheat dough.

The invention relates to the use of inulinase for reducing FODMAP (Fermentable oligo-, di-, monosaccharides and polyols) content in wholemeal bread or whole-meal dough. The invention further relates to wholemeal yeast fermented bread with a FODMAP content of maximum 0.2 gram fructans per 50 g of bread on dry matter base. The invention relates to methods of preparing a wholemeal yeast fermented bread with reduced FODMAP content, comprising the steps of mixing wholemeal and inulinase into a dough, allowing the dough to ferment and baking the dough. The invention further relates to methods of preparing a wholemeal dough with reduced FODMAP content in a wholemeal dough, comprising the steps of mixing wholemeal and inulinase into a dough, allowing the dough to ferment. Yeasts such as Kluyveromyces marxianus can be used as source of inulinase.

Lipase enzymes, methods of making lipase enzymes, methods of using lipase enzymes in food, feed, personal care, detergents, grain processing, pulp and paper processing, biofuels, ethanol production, textiles, dairy processing, cocoa butter processing, cocoa extraction, dietary supplements, coffee processing, coatings, water treatment, and oil processing.

A method for improving the extensibility of a dough comprising a) adding a gamma glutamyl transpeptidase to flour or to a dough comprising a flour; and b) making the dough. The gamma glutamyl transpeptidase may be obtainable from Bacillus licheniformis and from Bacillus horikoshii.

This invention provides lactic acid bacteria that have one or more effects selected from among fatigue-ameliorating effect, blood circulation-improving effect, stool odor-reducing effect, and growth-promoting effect and that can be used with high safety. This invention further provides a pharmaceutical preparation comprising, as an active ingredient, lactic acid bacteria that have one or more effects selected from among fatigue-ameliorating effect, blood circulation-improving effect, stool odor-reducing effect, and growth-promoting effect. According to the invention, novel lactic acid bacteria belonging to the Enterococcus faecium species having particular mycological properties and exhibiting viability of 40% or higher when freeze-dried in the absence of a dispersion medium and viability of 80% or higher in a probiotic preparation when stored at 40 C. for 4 months, a composition comprising such lactic acid bacteria, an agent for ameliorating fatigue, improving blood circulation, reducing stool odor or promoting growth comprising, as an active ingredient, such composition, and use of such composition for food and other products.