A storage stable frozen lactic acid bacteria (LAB) culture that comprises LAB that are that are able to utilize sucrose, has a weight of at least 50 g frozen material and a content of viable bacteria of at least 10.sup.9 colony forming units (CFU) per g frozen material.

A method for producing a lactic acid bacteria fermented milk product comprising fermenting milk with both inoculated lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and inoculated Bacillus bacteria.

A fermentation of a milk source with Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis biovar diacetylactis (CNCM No. I-1962) to form a fermented milk product. The fermented milk product has a flavor 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.

The Lactobacillus curvatus strain deposited as DSM18775 is used as a biopreservative culture in a wide range of meat products due to its production of bacteriocin. The present invention relates to Lactobacillus curvatus strains having an extended lag phase of at least 24 hours at 30° C. relative to DSM18775. In a presently preferred embodiment, the strains are mutants of DSM18775, such as the Lactobacillus curvatus strain deposited as DSM32590 and the Lactobacillus curvatus strain deposited as DSM 32591. Further, the invention relates to a method for inhibiting Listeria in a food product comprising adding bacteria of a Lactobacillus curvatus strain according to the invention to a food product in a concentration of at least 10.sup.5 CFU/g.

A Lactococcus lactis strain or a cell fraction thereof for use in the prevention and/or treatment of visceral pain is provided.

By a method for producing a culture for obtaining a culture by culturing a lactic acid bacterium and/or a bacterium belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium in a milk peptide-containing medium which is characterized in that a culture temperature is 3° C. or more lower than an optimum culture temperature of the lactic acid bacterium and/or the bacterium belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium, the change in the acidity during the storage of the product is not accelerated, and the bacterial count at the time of the preparation of the product can be maintained at a high level, even when the lactic acid bacterium or the like is cultured in a medium containing a milk peptide added thereto.

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 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).

A preparation method of a konjac granule includes the following steps: step 1: dissolving a konjac powder in hot water; step 2: subjecting a mixed solution obtained in step 1 to sterilization; step 3: conducting enzymatic hydrolysis at 50° C. to 70° C. for 2 h to 6 h; step 4: conducting enzymatic inactivation; step 5: conducting homogenization at 10 Mpa to 45 Mpa; step 6: adding a fully-dissolved sodium alginate solution and a flavor-modulating substance to a mixed solution obtained in step 5, and thoroughly mixing; and step 7: calcification and gelation: adding a calcium solution to a mixed solution obtained in step 6 for gelation to obtain the konjac granule. The preparation method improves the compactness of the konjac granule, increases a gel strength, and is conducive to extending a shelf life of a product.

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