The invention relates to a fermented onion composition having a dry matter content of at feast 8 wt. %, said composition comprising, per gram of dry matter: a) 0-150 mg of saccharides selected from fructose, glucose, sucrose and combinations thereof; b) 5-250 mg of phenols selected from acid equivalent of gallic acid, acid equivalent of ferulic acid, quercetin, kaempferol and combinations thereof; c) 75-500 mg acid equivalent of organic acid selected from propionic acid, lactic acid, acetic acid and combinations thereof,

The fermented onion composition of the present invention can advantageously be used as an effective, label-friendly food ingredient to increase overall quality of foods.

The invention also provides a method of preparing a fermented onion composition, comprising: providing an onion substrate containing 10-50 wt. % dry matter and 50-90 wt. % water, wherein at least 40 wt. % of the dry matter is derived from onion; inoculating the substrate with a micro-organism selected from lactic acid bacteria, Propionibacterium and combinations thereof; and incubating the inoculated substrate at a temperature in the range of 25-60° C. for at least 12 hours to produce an onion ferment.

Provided is a feed ingredient comprising propionate and a byproduct of fermentation of a feedstock by propionic acid-producing bacteria, wherein said feedstock comprises a carbon source and wherein said bacteria are of a class selected from the group consisting of Actinobacteria, Bacteroidia, Clostridia, Negativicutes and combinations thereof. Also provided are methods for manufacturing the feed ingredient and uses thereof.

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