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.

The present invention relates to a composition suitable for preparing a dairy product comprising at least one starter culture and a Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain capable of imparting onto the dairy product an enhanced creamy flavor without affecting the rheology negatively, the fermentation time or the post-acidification of the dairy product. The present invention further relates to processes for preparing a dairy product, such as a low-fat yogurt or cheese, which has a high content of diacetyl. A Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain useful for preparing such dairy product is also part of the present invention.

Methods of production of edible filamentous fungal biomat formulations are provided as standalone protein sources and/or protein ingredients in foodstuffs as well as a one-time use or repeated use self-contained biomat reactor comprising a container with at least one compartment and placed within the compartment(s), a feedstock, a fungal inoculum, a gas-permeable membrane, and optionally a liquid nutrient medium.

A method and automated machine for milking dairy animals and manufacturing cheese from the milk obtained, including the steps of: milking a well-defined, measured amount of base milk which satisfies certain quality standards and which is not mixed with other milk; and manufacturing cheese directly from the base milk obtained, by means of a fully automatic production line, where the production line contains a number of separate processing locations where intermediate products from the base milk are generated and/or treated, and transportation between the processing location and the handling of the base milk is done by a fully automatic robot vehicle (robotised automatic guided vehicle).

Disclosed are Aspergillus oryzae aged cheese and a preparation method thereof, wherein the preparation method of the Aspergillus oryzae cheese comprises the following steps: (1) inoculating raw milk after sterilization with lactic acid bacteria fermentation agent and Aspergillus oryzae spore powder, fermenting to a pH value of 6.3-6.5, wherein an additive amount of the Aspergillus oryzae spore powder is 0.001‰-0.008‰‰ of a mass of the raw milk; (2) adding rennin and obtaining curd after curding; (3) cutting the curd to obtain curd blocks; and (4) moulding the curd blocks after expelling whey, and performing pickling and maturing after demoulding, wherein 1-7 days are taken for maturing under 20-30° C.; 7-15 days are taken for maturing under 15-20° C.; 10-20 days are taken for continuing maturing under 8-12° C.; and relative humidity of an environment for maturing is 85%-95%.

Disclosed are Aspergillus oryzae aged cheese and a preparation method thereof, wherein the preparation method of the Aspergillus oryzae cheese comprises the following steps: (1) inoculating raw milk after sterilization with lactic acid bacteria fermentation agent and Aspergillus oryzae spore powder, fermenting to a pH value of 6.3-6.5, wherein an additive amount of the Aspergillus oryzae spore powder is 0.001‰-0.008‰‰ of a mass of the raw milk; (2) adding rennin and obtaining curd after curding; (3) cutting the curd to obtain curd blocks; and (4) moulding the curd blocks after expelling whey, and performing pickling and maturing after demoulding, wherein 1-7 days are taken for maturing under 20-30° C.; 7-15 days are taken for maturing under 15-20° C.; 10-20 days are taken for continuing maturing under 8-12° C.; and relative humidity of an environment for maturing is 85%-95%.

Novel cheese products and methods of producing such cheese products that include a biogenerated exopolysaccharide (EPS) formed in-situ and separate from the main cream cheese fermentation. In some approaches, the methods and cheese products herein build a unique texture and/or microstructure that permits the cheese to utilize a simplified ingredient line while still mimicking the desired organoleptic characteristics of more-conventional, full-ingredient cheese.

Novel cheese products and methods of producing such cheese products that include a biogenerated exopolysaccharide (EPS) formed in-situ and separate from the main cream cheese fermentation. In some approaches, the methods and cheese products herein build a unique texture and/or microstructure that permits the cheese to utilize a simplified ingredient line while still mimicking the desired organoleptic characteristics of more-conventional, full-ingredient cheese.

The present invention discloses a novel probiotic fermented beverage based on whey, comprising whey and a high probiotic microorganism concentration in the range of 10.sup.7-10.sup.8 CFU/mL, and a method for producing said beverage. The probiotic microorganism is a commercial yogurt culture of Streptococcus salivarus subsp. thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbruecki subsp. bulgaricus and a commercial culture of Lactobacillus acidophilus. The method for producing the probiotic fermented whey based beverage comprises recovering whey by an enzymatic coagulation process, percolation, enriching and pasteurizing whey, fermentation, sweeting and flavoring. The beverage comprises the following physico-chemical characteristics: pH 5.0±0.00; titratable acidity 68.0±1.4 mL NaOH 0.1N/100 mL; total solids 12.4±0.1% w/v; fat 0.8±0.1% w/v; protein 1±0.1% w/v; cinder 0.55±0.02% w/v; Total sugar 10.0±0.2% w/v; Reducing sugar 4.20±0.15% w/v; and Energic value 87.2±0.00 cal/100 g sample. The beverage comprises the following physico-chemical characteristics and probiotics count at 4° C. and 8° C.: 1-21 day shelf-life; pH 4.77-4.85; titratable acidity 72-73 mL NaOH 0.1N/100 mL; and probiotic count of about 31×10.sup.7-39×10.sup.7 CFU/mL.

The present invention relates to novel strains of Penicillium camemberti and to the use thereof for the preparation of food products, for example of dairy and/or vegetable origin, such as the ripening of soft cheeses having a moldy and/or mixed crust, in particular camembert.