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.

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.

This invention provides an IFN inducer comprising, as an active ingredient, lactic acid bacteria and capable of inducing IFN production, an immunopotentiating agent or prophylactic agent against virus infection comprising such inducer, and a food or drink product comprising such IFN inducer and having IFN-inducing activity, immunopotentiating activity, or prophylactic activity against virus infection. The agent for inducing IFN production comprises, as active ingredients, lactic acid bacteria that can activate plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) and promote IFN production, such as Lactococcus garvieae NBRC100934, Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris JCM16167, Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris NBRC100676, Lactococcus lactis subsp. hordniae JCM1180, Lactococcus lactis subsp. hordniae JCM11040, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis NBRC12007, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis NRIC1150, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis JCM5805, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis JCM20101, Leuconostoc lactis NBRC12455, Leuconostoc lactis NRIC1540, Pediococcus damnosus JCM5886, or Streptococcus thermophilus TA-45.

The present invention relates to novel strains of Lactobacillus as well as preparations and compositions, such as fermentation broths, protective cultures, final food or feed product with Lactobacillus alone or in combination with bacteria of the genus Propionibacterium. The present invention further relates to methods for the controlling of growth of a contaminant, such as a bacteria, yeast or mould by using these novel strains of Lactobacillus.

The present invention is in the field of dairy technology. It relates to methods of inhibiting the growth of unwanted microorganisms, such as Gram-negative bacteria, yeasts or molds in dairy products by using phospholipase to treat the milk base. The invention also provides dairy products produced therefrom.

The application is directed to a method to manufacture pasta-filata cheese based on cultures comprising or consisting of either 1) at least a galactose-positive Streptococcus thermophilus strain as defined herein or 2) at least a Streptococcus thermophilus strain and a Lactococcus lactis strain, and to a stretched curd or cheese produced by this method. The application is also directed to a culture or kit-of-part comprising or consisting of a) a galactose-positive Streptococcus thermophilus strain as defined herein, and b) Lactococcus strain(s) and/or Lactobacillus helveticus strain(s).

The present invention relates to novel S. thermophillus strains that are not attacked by common phagesand novel Streptococcus strains with improved stability against phage attacks, methods to obtain Streptococcus strains with improved phage resistance, their use in the manufacture of fermented milk-based products, and novel milk based products containing the strain.

The present invention relates to novel S. thermophillus strains that are not attacked by common phagesand novel Streptococcus strains with improved stability against phage attacks, methods to obtain Streptococcus strains with improved phage resistance, their use in the manufacture of fermented milk-based products, and novel milk based products containing the strain.

The present invention relates to a high temperature resistant Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis DSM 32009 strain that can be used in the production of cheese where the curd is cooked at high temperature (>50° C.).

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for producing continental cheese in a non-wash process.