The present invention relates to the identification of a group of microorganisms, which are relatively abundant in the microbial communities associated with fruits and vegetables typically consumed raw and therefore transient or permanent members of the human microbiota. These microbes are used to augment the effects of additional probiotic strains. The consumption of mixtures of these microbes at relevant doses will produce a beneficial effect in the host mediated in part by production of short chain fatty acids to enhance colonic butyrate production. Therapeutic methods of the invention involve the use of live microorganisms or metabolites derived from said microorganisms to establish a microbial composition in the mammalian host that will provide a health benefit to a mammal in need thereof.

The present invention relates to the identification of a group of microorganisms, which are relatively abundant in the microbial communities associated with fruits and vegetables typically consumed raw and therefore transient or permanent members of the human microbiota. These microbes are used to augment the effects of additional probiotic strains. The consumption of mixtures of these microbes at relevant doses will produce a beneficial effect in the host mediated in part by production of short chain fatty acids to enhance colonic butyrate production. Therapeutic methods of the invention involve the use of live microorganisms or metabolites derived from said microorganisms to establish a microbial composition in the mammalian host that will provide a health benefit to a mammal in need thereof.

A health functional food product prepared by fermenting a dough containing whey, including a health functional bakery product prepared by: preparing a sponge and a dough by adding and mixing about 1.0 to 10 wt part of a whey powder and about 0.01 to 1.0 wt part of a mixture of probiotic preparation consisting of Leuconostoc strain, Lactobacillus strain and 2 kinds of Saccharomyces strains as to 100 wt part of a dough; and fermenting, aging and baking the dough. Such may be used to prepare a health functional bakery product as well as a health functional Lactobacillus fermented drink using said health functional bakery product.

The present invention relates to a novel Leuconostoc holzapfelii Ceb-kc-003 (deposited as Korea Accession Number accession KCCM11830P) strain and a composition comprising the same. The novel strain has abilities of preventing hair loss, promoting hair growth, or improving sexual function.

Provided is a taste-improving agent that suppresses the unpleasant taste of potassium, such as harshness, irritativeness, and bitterness without reducing the salty taste of a potassium-containing food or drink. The taste-improving agent for a potassium-containing food or drink comprises a lactic acid-fermented yeast extract that is obtainable by fermenting a yeast extract with a lactic acid bacterium and contains 7.5 (w/w) % or more of lactic acid relative to the solid content of the yeast extract.

The present invention relates to a Leuconostoc holzapfelii strain for improvement of liver function and a use thereof. The Leuconostoc holzapfelii strain of the present invention can effectively improve functions of the liver and thus is expected to find applications in a variety of fields including various food compositions including functional food compositions, pharmaceutical compositions, and animal food compositions.

A health functional food product prepared by fermenting a dough containing whey, including a health functional bakery product prepared by: preparing a sponge and a dough by adding and mixing about 1.0 to 10 wt part of a whey powder and about 0.01 to 1.0 wt part of a mixture of probiotic preparation consisting of Leuconostoc strain, Lactobacillus strain and 2 kinds of Saccharomyces strains as to 100 wt part of a dough; and fermenting, aging and baking the dough. Such may be used to prepare a health functional bakery product as well as a health functional Lactobacillus fermented drink using said health functional bakery product.

The present invention relates to a process for producing a fermented milk soft cheese product comprising 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 comprising 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.

A low-mineral quark matrix is suggested, which is obtainable by (a) subjecting raw milk to heat treatment, separating the cream, (b) subjecting the skimmed milk such obtained to an ultrafiltration step and/or a reverse osmosis step, producing a retentate R1, which represents a dairy protein concentrate, and a permeate P1, (c) subjecting the permeate P1 to an electrodialysis step, producing a salt-depleted diluate D1, (d) combining the diluate D1 with the retentate R1, (e) subjecting the combination product such obtained to heat treatment until denaturation sets in, (f) fermenting the denaturation product such obtained by the addition of starter cultures and rennet, and (g) adjusting or standardising the fermentation product such obtained to defined dry matter and protein contents.

A quark matrix having improved taste characteristics is suggested, which is obtainable by (a) subjecting raw milk to heat treatment, separating the cream, (b) subjecting the skimmed milk such obtained to a microfiltration step, obtaining a first retentate R1, which represents a first dairy protein concentrate, and a first permeate P1, (c) subjecting the permeate P1 to an ultrafiltration step and/or a reverse osmosis step, obtaining a second retentate R2, which represents a second dairy protein concentrate, and a second permeate P2, (d) subjecting the permeate P2 to an electrodialysis step, obtaining a salt-depleted diluate D1, (e) combining the diluate D1 with the retentate R1, (f) subjecting the combination product such obtained to heat treatment until denaturation sets in, (g) fermenting the denaturation product such obtained by adding starter cultures and rennet, and (h) adjusting the fermentation product such obtained to defined dry matter and protein contents.