The invention relates to methods for making strained acidic, for example fermented, dairy products having reduced carbohydrates, compositions comprising strained acidic, for example fermented, dairy products having reduced carbohydrates, and methods for using such compositions, as well as products generated using strained acidic, for example fermented, dairy products having reduced carbohydrates.

A proliferation promoting effect on lactic acid bacteria during production and a viability improving effect during storage are obtained by a method for producing a lactic acid bacterium fermentation food product characterized in that when a lactic acid bacterium fermentation food product is produced by inoculating and culturing lactic acid bacteria in a medium containing a milk or a milk product as a main component, a lipase degradation product of an oil or fat is added to the medium containing a milk or a milk product as a main component before culturing lactic acid bacteria, or to a fermented liquid during or after culturing.

Glucosyl stevia compositions are prepared from steviol glycosides of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni. The glucosylation was performed by cyclodextrin glucanotransferase using the starch as source of glucose residues. The compositions mainly comprise glucosyl derivatives with superior taste characteristics and can be used as sweetness enhancers, flavor enhancers and sweeteners in foods, beverages, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

[Problem] To provide a novel technology that can promote the production of interleukin-6, and to provide a novel technology that can promote the production of interleukin-10. [Solution] Provided are an interleukin-6 production promoter that comprises a crude yeast cell wall hydrolysate, and an interleukin-10 production promoter that comprises a crude yeast cell wall hydrolysate.

The present invention relates to a new method of producing a viscous, high protein, acidified, dairy product. The invention furthermore relates to new high protein acidified dairy product, to new protein powder and uses of the protein powder.

Provided are: a food/beverage product containing dietary fiber, vitamins, and a calcium source, the food/beverage product made by ameliorating off-flavors resulting from said nutritional ingredients; an agent for masking off-flavor in the food/beverage product; and a method for masking off-flavor in the food/beverage product.

The food/beverage product contains stevia, dietary fiber, vitamins, and a calcium source. The agent for masking off-flavor in a food/beverage product containing dietary fiber, vitamins, and a calcium source, the off-flavor masking agent having stevia as an active ingredient. The method for masking off-flavor in a food/beverage product containing dietary fiber, vitamins, and a calcium source, the off-flavor masking method involving making the food/beverage product to be compounded with stevia. An acidic milk beverage is preferred as the food/beverage product.

Methods of making protein-fortified yogurt products are described. The methods may include mixing a casein-containing ingredient with starting milk to make a yogurt milk, where the casein-containing ingredient has a casein-to-whey protein ratio of 82:18 or greater. The yogurt milk may be fermented after adding yogurt culture to make a yogurt mixture. The yogurt mixture may then be formed into the protein-fortified yogurt product. The total protein concentration in the protein-fortified yogurt product may be 10 wt.% or more. One variety of the protein-fortified yogurt product is a spreadable yogurt product having the total protein concentration of 11 wt.% or more.

The present invention relates a heteropolysaccharide characterized in that it is substantially composed of the monosaccharides glucose and galactose and rhamnose and N-acetylgalactosamine and a process for the production thereof. The invention further relates to a bacterium capable of producing said heteropolysaccharide and to the use of the heteropolysaccharide and the bacterium for improving the texture of fermented milk products.

Novel cultivars of Stevia rebaudiana plant, with a novel genetic trait of self-compatibility, and the advantageous use of this genetic trait in Stevia rebaudiana crossing breeding for increasing steviol glycosides production, including food and beverage products and other consumables, are disclosed.

The present invention describes a method for producing a set-type yogurt snack, said method comprising allowing said yogurt snack to set in a mold or block and wherein said yogurt snack comprises at least 12% (w/w) protein and at least 35% (w/w) total solids.