The present invention is directed to a method of producing a Streptococcus thermophilus strain comprising the steps of a) Providing a mother strain in the form of Streptococcus thermophilus DSM32502, b) Growing a culture of the mother strain in the presence of a bacteriophage, to which the mother strain is not resistant, to obtain a number of mutant strains, which are resistant to the said bacteriophage, c) Measuring the acidification time of the bacteriophage-resistant mutant strains and the mother strain in a milk base and selecting at least one mutant strain with a reduced acidification time as compared to the mother strain to obtain a fast-acidifying mutant strain.

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 permeabilized whole cell catalyst and method for conversion (reducing the amount) of a target substrate to one of more product are provided, wherein the catalyst is obtained by incubating the cells with a permeabilization agent selected from a fatty acid and fatty acid derivative, and wherein the permeabilized cells comprise an intracellular enzyme for catalyzing conversion of the target substrate. The target substrate transits through the channel, holes, or pore made in the cell membrane by the permeabilization agent, and is converted to products by enzymes retained within the cell.

A permeabilized whole cell catalyst and method for conversion (reducing the amount) of a target substrate to one of more product are provided, wherein the catalyst is obtained by incubating the cells with a permeabilization agent selected from a fatty acid and fatty acid derivative, and wherein the permeabilized cells comprise an intracellular enzyme for catalyzing conversion of the target substrate. The target substrate transits through the channel, holes, or pore made in the cell membrane by the permeabilization agent, and is converted to products by enzymes retained within the cell.

The invention relates to a low-sugar acidified product, preferably yogurt or quark, and to a process for its preparation, wherein a milk raw material having a lactose content in the range from about 0.6 weight-% to 2.5 weight-% is used as a starting material.

The invention relates to a low-sugar acidified product, preferably yogurt or quark, and to a process for its preparation, wherein a milk raw material having a lactose content in the range from about 0.6 weight-% to 2.5 weight-% is used as a starting material.

A novel co-fermented food product formed from oats and dairy is described herein. The co-fermented food product includes a grain ingredient, a dairy ingredient, and a bacterial culture. The novel co-fermented food product includes a set of metabolites derived from the co-fermentation of the oat ingredient and the dairy ingredient by the bacterial culture.

A method for producing a fermented milk product (e.g. a yogurt) with a relatively high stable pH value at the end of the fermentation comprising inoculating milk with Streptococcus thermophilus (ST) Gal(+) bacteria.

The present invention provides fermented milk with modified flavor and/or texture, fermented milk with a suppressed acidity increase during storage, and a production method therefor. Fermented milk according to the present invention comprises a food emulsifier. The method for producing fermented milk according to the present invention comprises the steps of: preparing a raw material composition containing a food emulsifier; and adding a lactic acid bacterium starter to the raw material composition for fermentation.

The present invention provides fermented milk with modified flavor and/or texture, fermented milk with a suppressed acidity increase during storage, and a production method therefor. Fermented milk according to the present invention comprises a food emulsifier. The method for producing fermented milk according to the present invention comprises the steps of: preparing a raw material composition containing a food emulsifier; and adding a lactic acid bacterium starter to the raw material composition for fermentation.