Abstract: A pre-conditioned probiotic composition and method of forming the pre-conditioned probiotic composition comprises introducing thawed probiotic cells into a pre-conditioning environment having sufficient nutrients and conditions to prepare the thawed probiotic cells for surviving and successfully thriving in a targeted food product. Thawed probiotic cells are then provided with an incubation period of at least 2 hours to produce inoculation pre-treated probiotic cells with improved shelf life in a food product.

Abstract: Beverage products are disclosed comprising at least one fruit juice, at least one sweetener, probiotic bacteria, and beta-glucan, where the beverage product has a pH of at most 4.5 and an acid level of 0.5%-1.0%. In certain exemplary and non-limiting embodiments, the beverage product has the characteristic that if tested after 45 days of storage in hermetically sealed individually sized 12 fl. oz. PET vessels stored in the dark or in otherwise UV shielded conditions at a refrigeration temperature of 35° F. the beverage product has an increased shelf life when compared to the same beverage product without beta glucan. Methods are provided for making such beverage products with extended probiotic stability.

Abstract: Beverage products are disclosed comprising at least one fruit juice, at least one sweetener, probiotic bacteria, and beta-glucan, where the beverage product has a pH of at most 4.5 and an acid level of 0.5%-1.0%. In certain exemplary and non-limiting embodiments, the beverage product has the characteristic that if tested after 45 days of storage in hermetically sealed individually sized 12 fl. oz. PET vessels stored in the dark or in otherwise UV shielded conditions at a refrigeration temperature of 35° F. the beverage product has an increased shelf life when compared to the same beverage product without beta glucan. Methods are provided for making such beverage products with extended probiotic stability.