The present invention provides novel Lactococcus lactis lactic acid bacterium strains having improved texturing properties and methods of using the strains for producing food products.

The present invention relates to a direct vat set starter culture composition comprising lactic acid bacteria comprising a manganese transporter for fermenting a food product and for inhibiting or delaying growth of fungi in said food product, characterized in that the composition comprises up to 600 ppm of manganese.

An apparatus and method for handling a food product powder includes a sealable container having an interior surface defining a volume in which the food product powder is handled, and a powder outlet, and a nozzle arrangement that is attached to the container and configured to feed air into the container. The nozzle arrangement has a plurality of jet nozzles configured to direct the air towards the interior surface to remove product powder from the interior surface, such that the air and the removed product powder may flow out of the container via the powder outlet.

Using a method for producing fermented milk containing an oligosaccharide and a lactic acid bacterium as a living bacterium that cultures the lactic acid bacterium in a medium containing the oligosaccharide and fermented milk produced by the production method, a high viable bacterial count can be maintained even during long-term preservation in the fermented milk containing the oligosaccharide and the lactic acid bacterium as a living bacterium.

Using a method for producing fermented milk containing an oligosaccharide and a lactic acid bacterium as a living bacterium that cultures the lactic acid bacterium in a medium containing the oligosaccharide and fermented milk produced by the production method, a high viable bacterial count can be maintained even during long-term preservation in the fermented milk containing the oligosaccharide and the lactic acid bacterium as a living bacterium.

Novel Bifidobacterium bacteria having an opioid peptide decomposition action and a noncollagenous glycoprotein decomposition action are provided. The present invention relates to one or more kinds of Bifidobacterium bacteria selected from the group consisting of Bifidobacterium bifidum MCC1092 (NITE BP-02429), Bifidobacterium bifidum MCC1319 (NITE BP-02431), Bifidobacterium bifidum MCC1868 (NITE BP-02432), Bifidobacterium bifidum MCC1870 (NITE BP-02433), and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum MCC1110 (NITE BP-02430), as well as a composition for decomposing an opioid peptide and composition for decomposing a noncollagenous glycoprotein containing the Bifidobacterium bacteria as an active ingredient.

A composition and method for supplementing food, nutrition, and diet systems with omega-6 to omega-3 balanced oils comprising a synergistic blend of at least two oils. The composition further comprises a synergistic blend of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids as a means to further increase the nutritional value. The composition provides an effective increase in therapeutic and pharmacological properties in nutrition, and retards the rate of oxidation thereof.

A composition and method for supplementing food, nutrition, and diet systems with omega-6 to omega-3 balanced oils comprising a synergistic blend of at least two oils. The composition further comprises a synergistic blend of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids as a means to further increase the nutritional value. The composition provides an effective increase in therapeutic and pharmacological properties in nutrition, and retards the rate of oxidation thereof.

Provided is a composition for reducing heart rate, including a lactic acid bacterium belonging to the genus Lactobacillus. A subject is allowed to ingest a composition containing a lactic acid bacterium belonging to the genus Lactobacillus to reduce heart rate of the subject.

Provided a method for promoting growth of bacteria of the genus Bifidobacterium. The method for promoting growth of bacteria of the genus Bifidobacterium includes subjecting a milk culture medium containing one or more selected from the group consisting of cysteine, cystine, and a salt thereof to heat treatment and then culturing bacteria of the genus Bifidobacterium in the milk culture medium.