The present invention provides a lactic acid bacteria-containing composition comprising a Lactobacillus delbrueckii and a Streptococcus thermophilus.

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 5.00.00; titratable acidity 68.01.4 mL NaOH 0.1N/100 mL; total solids 12.40.1% w/v; fat 0.80.1% w/v; protein 10.1% w/v; cinder 0.550.02% w/v; Total sugar 10.00.2% w/v; Reducing sugar 4.200.15% w/v; and Energic value 87.20.00 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 3110.sup.7-3910.sup.7 CFU/mL.

The present invention relates to a process for producing a fermented milk product comprising the steps of 1) adding a starter culture comprising at least one lactic acid bacteria strain to a milk base, 2) fermenting the milk for a period of time until a target pH is reached, 3) using a starter culture comprising at least one lactose-deficient strain, which is capable of metabolizing a non-lactose carbohydrate, and 4) adding a low pH stable lactase to the process either at the start, during or at the end of the fermentation step, wherein the low pH stable lactase retains its activity at a pH of 5.0 and a temperature of 37 C. at a level of at least 5% as compared to its activity at the optimum pH of the lactase.

The present invention relates to a process for producing a fermented milk product comprising the steps of 1) adding a starter culture comprising at least one lactic acid bacteria strain to a milk base, 2) fermenting the milk for a period of time until a target pH is reached, 3) using a starter culture comprising at least one lactose-deficient strain, which is capable of metabolizing a non-lactose carbohydrate, and 4) adding a low pH stable lactase to the process either at the start, during or at the end of the fermentation step, wherein the low pH stable lactase retains its activity at a pH of 5.0 and a temperature of 37 C. at a level of at least 5% as compared to its activity at the optimum pH of the lactase.

The present invention provides a lactic acid bacterial fermentation-promoting agent and a fermentation method suitable for use in food production. The present invention relates to a fermentation promoting agent for a lactic acid bacterium, having a compound having a purine skeleton with a hydrogen atom attached to the carbon atom at position 2, and a method for promoting fermentation for a lactic acid bacterium using the same and a method for producing a fermented food such as fermented milk.

Process for the production of starter cultures for the production of dairy products having predetermined properties, wherein the starter cultures are treated with pulsed electric fields (PEF) of rectangular monopolar high voltage pulses of a field strength of 0.2 to 1 kV/cm with a pulse duration of 5 to 8 ?s at a frequency of 1 to 21 Hz for 20 to 80 pulses, for each parameter respectively ?15% or ?10% or ?5%.

The present invention relates to mutants of lactic acid bacteria which are resistant to the antibiotic ampicillin and which were found to give an increased texture when grown in milk while maintaining the other growth properties of the parent strain. The present invention, furthermore, relates to compositions comprising such mutants, and to dairy products fermented with the lactic acid bacteria resistant to ampicillin.

Described are processes of preparing plant milk-based yogurt and yogurt products. The process does not require the addition of lactase and thus makes production of lactose-free yogurt efficient and economic. Addition of a soluble fiber, in certain embodiments, can substantially reduce the fermentation time. Yogurt and yogurt products prepared by such processes are also described in the present disclosure.

The present invention relates to mutants of lactic acid bacteria which are resistant towards the antibiotic D-cycloserine and/or functionally equivalent antibiotics and which were found to give an increased texture when grown in milk while maintaining the other growth properties of the parent strain. The present invention, furthermore, relates to compositions comprising such mutants, and to dairy products fermented with the lactic acid bacteria resistant towards D-cycloserine and/or functionally equivalent antibiotics.

The present invention relates to a process for producing a fermented milk soft cheese product including the steps of a) Providing a first milk base, b) Optionally subjecting the first milk base to a concentration step to obtain a concentrated first milk base, c) Adding a first starter culture including at least one EPS producing lactic acid bacterium strain, d) Fermenting the concentrated first milk base for a period of time until a target pH is reached to obtain an EPS-containing fermented milk composition, e) Mixing the EPS-containing fermented milk composition with one or more other ingredients, if any, selected from the group consisting of a milk fat composition, a second fermented milk composition and one or more additives, to obtain a fermented milk mixture, and f) Subjecting the fermented milk mixture to heat treatment to obtain a fermented milk soft cheese product.