Provided is a natural product enzyme containing lactic acid bacteria and a method for producing the same, and more particularly a natural product-derived fermented enzyme obtained by inoculating lactic acid bacteria into natural products, including ginseng, Korean dendropanax, perilla, onion and seaweed, followed by fermentation, and a method for producing the same. The natural product enzyme produced by the method of producing the natural product enzyme using lactic acid bacterial according to the present invention makes it possible to effectively use the natural physiologically active components contained in the natural products and the active components which are additionally produced by lactic acid bacteria fermentation.

The present invention provides a genetically modified lactic acid bacterium capable of producing diacetyl under aerobic conditions. Additionally the invention provides a method for producing diacetyl using the genetically modified lactic acid bacterium under aerobic conditions in the presence of a source of iron-containing porphyrin and a metal ion selected from Fe.sup.3+, Fe.sup.2+ and Cu.sup.2+. The lactic acid bacterium is genetically modified by deletion of those genes in its genome that encode polypeptides having lactate dehydrogenase (E.C 1.1.1.27/E.C.1.1.1.28); -acetolactate decarboxylase (E.C 4.1.1.5); water-forming NADH oxidase (E.C. 1.6.3.4); phosphotransacetylase (E.C.2.3.1.8) activity; and optionally devoid of or deleted for genes encoding polypeptides having diacetyl reductase ((R)-acetoin forming; EC:1.1.1.303); D-acetoin reductase; butanediol dehydrogenase ((R,R)-butane-2,3-diol forming; E.C. 1.1.1.4/1.1.1.-) and alcohol dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.2.1.10) activity. The invention provides for use of the genetically modified lactic acid bacterium for the production of diacetyl and a food product.

A yeast extract containing 0.2% or more of -Glu-Abu based on dry weight of the yeast extract is produced by culturing a yeast, such as Saccharomyces cervisiae or Candida utilis, in a medium containing a compound selected from Abu (L-2-aminobutyric acid) and -Glu-Abu (L--glutamyl-L-2-aminobutyric acid), and preparing a yeast extract from the obtained cells.

A yeast extract containing 0.2% or more of -Glu-Abu based on dry weight of the yeast extract is produced by culturing a yeast, such as Saccharomyces cervisiae or Candida utilis, in a medium containing a compound selected from Abu (L-2-aminobutyric acid) and -Glu-Abu (L--glutamyl-L-2-aminobutyric acid), and preparing a yeast extract from the obtained cells.

A fermentation of a milk source with Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis diacetylactis (CNCM No. I-4404) or a Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis diacetylactis (CNCM No. I-4405) to form a fermented milk product. The fermented milk product has at least a cream flavour and aroma. The fermented milk product can be in the form of a powder or a concentrate. The fermented milk product has applications in the food industry. A use of a lactic acid bacterium, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis diacetylactis (CNCM No. I-4404) or a Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis diacetylactis (CNCM No. I-4405) for the manufacture of butter-cream flavouring milk ingredients containing at least one of diacetyl, acetoin and 3,4-dihydroxy-3,4-dimethyl-2,5-hexanedione.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a garlic-fermented composition and a garlic-fermented composition prepared by the method, and the purpose of the present invention is to provide a garlic-fermented composition which is easy to take, has no side effect, and improves excellent pharmacological and physiological efficacies of garlic. To achieve this, the method for preparing a garlic-fermented composition according to an aspect of the present invention, comprises: a first fermentation step of mixing garlic, water, and a ferment strain, followed by fermentation, thereby decomposing and converting sugars and proteins of the garlic; and a second fermentation step of additionally supplying a carbon source to a filtrate obtained through solid-liquid separation of the fermented product, followed by fermentation, thereby removing ammonia of the filtrate and decomposing and converting the additionally supplied carbon source.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a garlic-fermented composition and a garlic-fermented composition prepared by the method, and the purpose of the present invention is to provide a garlic-fermented composition which is easy to take, has no side effect, and improves excellent pharmacological and physiological efficacies of garlic. To achieve this, the method for preparing a garlic-fermented composition according to an aspect of the present invention, comprises: a first fermentation step of mixing garlic, water, and a ferment strain, followed by fermentation, thereby decomposing and converting sugars and proteins of the garlic; and a second fermentation step of additionally supplying a carbon source to a filtrate obtained through solid-liquid separation of the fermented product, followed by fermentation, thereby removing ammonia of the filtrate and decomposing and converting the additionally supplied carbon source.

The present invention relates to a method for the purification of natural vanillin, comprising a step involving the stripping of a liquid flow F2 containing natural vanillin. The invention also relates to the natural vanillin that can be obtained using the method of the invention, as well as a device for purifying natural vanillin.

A method of processing is disclosed that provides improved water retention and enhanced coloring and flavor, while preserving the meat and preventing bacterial contamination. In an exemplary embodiment, the method includes: (a) providing a body of meat at a first temperature; (b) contacting the body of meat of step (a), in at least one treating vessel, with a brine solution at a second temperature, wherein the second temperature is greater than the first temperature, and wherein the brine solution comprises a vinegar-derived food additive and/or a reddening agent, wherein the reddening agent comprises nitrite; (c) agitating the body of meat at the second temperature for a time sufficient to distribute the solution throughout the body of meat; (d) cooling the body of meat in at least one cooling vessel to a third temperature, wherein the third temperature is less than the second temperature; (e) agitating the body of meat at the third temperature; (f) contacting the body of meat of step (e) with the brine solution at the third temperature and agitating the body of meat at the third temperature until the brine solution is substantially absorbed by the body of meat; and (g) recovering the body of meat in a dry state at the third temperature.

In one embodiment, the aforementioned brine solution comprises a vinegar-variety food additive, such as a vinegar-derived acetate composition. In another embodiment, the reddening agent comprises nitrate derived from plant material comprising nitrate.

A method of processing is disclosed that provides improved water retention and enhanced coloring and flavor, while preserving the meat and preventing bacterial contamination. In an exemplary embodiment, the method includes: (a) providing a body of meat at a first temperature; (b) contacting the body of meat of step (a), in at least one treating vessel, with a brine solution at a second temperature, wherein the second temperature is greater than the first temperature, and wherein the brine solution comprises a vinegar-derived food additive and/or a reddening agent, wherein the reddening agent comprises nitrite; (c) agitating the body of meat at the second temperature for a time sufficient to distribute the solution throughout the body of meat; (d) cooling the body of meat in at least one cooling vessel to a third temperature, wherein the third temperature is less than the second temperature; (e) agitating the body of meat at the third temperature; (f) contacting the body of meat of step (e) with the brine solution at the third temperature and agitating the body of meat at the third temperature until the brine solution is substantially absorbed by the body of meat; and (g) recovering the body of meat in a dry state at the third temperature.

In one embodiment, the aforementioned brine solution comprises a vinegar-variety food additive, such as a vinegar-derived acetate composition. In another embodiment, the reddening agent comprises nitrate derived from plant material comprising nitrate.