Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition suitable for preparing a dairy product comprising at least one starter culture and a Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain capable of imparting onto the dairy product an enhanced creamy flavor without affecting the rheology negatively, the fermentation time or the post-acidification of the dairy product. The present invention further relates to processes for preparing a dairy product, such as a low-fat yogurt or cheese, which has a high content of diacetyl. A Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain useful for preparing such dairy product is also part of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new improved peptide or dimeric peptides exhibiting betagalactosidase enzyme activity as well as improved methods for reducing the lactose content in compositions, such as dairy products.

Abstract: Variants of chymosin with improved properties.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new improved peptide or dimeric peptides exhibiting betagalactosidase enzyme activity wherein the peptide has a pH optimum at acidic conditions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel S. thermophillus strains that are not attacked by common phagesand novel Streptococcus strains with improved stability against phage attacks, methods to obtain Streptococcus strains with improved phage resistance, their use in the manufacture of fermented milk-based products, and novel milk based products containing the strain.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a silage inoculant consisting essentially of a) at least one obligatory heterofermentative lactic acid bacterial species or strain and b) at least one homofermentative bacterial species or strain which (i) does not reduce growth of a), and (ii) reduces pH fast without producing an excess amount of lactic acid. Further, the invention relates to a method for producing a fermented feed product, said method comprising inoculating a plant material with the silage inoculant according to the invention. It has surprisingly been found that the silage inoculant is effective even if the silage has only been incubated for a period of up to 2 or up to 4 days.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a Streptococcus thermophilus strain with a deficiency in glucose metabolism for improving growth of a Lactobacillus strain in a process for producing a fermented milk product.

Abstract: It has unexpectedly been found that a low alcohol or alcohol-free beverage, with a flavor profile very close to a beer of at least 4% (vol/vol) alcohol, can be produced by using Pichia kluyveri yeast strains. In particular, Pichia kluyveri yeast strains only use the glucose in the wort, and have the ability of converting this substrate into a high concentration of specific flavor compounds, which are normally produced by Saccharomyces ssp. yeast strains used for the brewing of beer. In this way the Pichia kluyveri yeast strains can be used to produce either a low alcohol or alcohol-free beverage, depending on the glucose levels in the wort. The main flavor compounds produced by Pichia kluyveri in the fermentation of wort are isoamyl acetate, isoamyl alcohol, ethyl butyrate, ethyl hexanoate and ethyl octanoate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a Bacillus subtilis strain deposited as DSM 32685 and mutant strains thereof which are susceptible to relevant antibiotics, have inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, E. coli and Salmonella enterica and have the ability to facilitate degradation of non-starch polysaccharides and thereby increase the amount of available oligosaccharides (sugar) in animal feed. The invention further relates to a composition comprising at least one Bacillus subtilis strain of the invention and optionally further bacteria, and/or one or more types of yeast. The composition may be a probiotic, Direct Fed Microbial (DFM), a premix, an animal feed additive, or an animal feed such as complete feed, e.g. a canine complete feed. The composition can be used in the prevention, reduction or control of a bacterial colonization or infection or for increasing digestibility of an animal feed, in particular a feed for a monogastric animal, such as feed for a companion animal, e.g.

Abstract: The present invention is related to the field of reddening of food products. In particular the present invention relates to the preservation or optimization of nitrate reductase activity of frozen and/or dried lactic acid bacteria cultures or Micrococcaceae cultures (particularly cultures comprising one or more species of Staphylococcus having nitrate reductase activity).

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Described are Pichia kluyveri yeast strains with advantageous properties useful in cacao fermentation processes, and related methods and products, including fermented cocoa beans having a ratio of isobutyl acetate/isobutanol higher than 1 and/or a ratio of isoamyl acetate/isoamyl alcohol higher than 0.005, and cocoa-based products prepared therefrom, as well as methods for the fermentation of cocoa beans comprising using at least one Pichia kluyveri yeast strain, fermented cocoa beans obtainable thereby, and cocoa-based products prepared therefrom and obtainable thereby.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of preparing vegetable juice comprising fermenting a vegetable substrate with a Pichia kluyveri. Fermented vegetable juice obtained according the method has better flavor profiles, in particular reduced earthy flavors. The invention also provides Pichia kluyveri strains useful for fermenting vegetable substrates, which can be further processed to obtain beverages or other consumer products.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition for producing a fermented milk product comprising (i) at least one Streptococcus thermophilus (St) strain, wherein the St strain is galactose-fermenting, wherein the strain carries a mutation in the DNA sequence of the glcK gene encoding a glucokinase protein, wherein the mutation inactivates the glucokinase protein or has a negative effect on expression of the gene, and (ii) at least one Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus (Lb) strain, wherein the Lb strain is lactose-deficient and capable of metabolizing a non-lactose carbohydrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to aqueous topical compositions comprising at least 1·106 CFU/g probiotic bacteria that remain viable in said composition for at least 14 days at 25° C./60% RH or 30° C./75% RH or 5° C. The present invention also relates to methods for preparing such aqueous topical compositions, and a device suitable for long-term storage of viable bacteria of at least one probiotic bacterial strain and a water miscible solvent. In addition, the present invention relates to the use of said delivery device for providing probiotic bacteria that remain viable in said aqueous topical composition. Once the user needs the aqueous topical composition of the invention, the compartments in the device are mixed and a stable ready-to-use aqueous topical composition of the invention is provided with at least 1·106 CFU/g viable bacteria of at least one probiotic bacterial strain for up to 14 days at 25° C./60% RH or 30° C./75% RH or 5° C.

Abstract: A method for producing a cheese with reduced amount of galactose comprising inoculating milk with Streptococcus thermophilus Gal(+) bacteria and Lactobacillus Gal(+) Lac(?) bacteria.

Abstract: Disclosed is Bacterium of the species Lactobacillus rhamnosus CHCC15860 as deposited with the German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures (DSMZ) under accession No. DSM32092. Also disclosed are compositions comprising the bacterium, methods for producing fermented milk products using the bacterium and the products thus obtained.

Abstract: Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and suspensions thereof in an aqueous phase are provided, in which the SLNs have high content of oil-soluble pigment and high stability. A food product, such as a beverage, comprising said SLNs is also provided.

Abstract: Described are mutant Streptococcus thermophilus strains and mutant Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus strains that excrete glucose into milk when the milk is inoculated and fermented with such strains. Methods for obtaining such strains without genetic modification are described, including methods for obtaining such Streptococcus thermophilus strains by selecting and isolating from a pool of Streptococcus thermophilus strains derived from a galactose-fermenting Streptococcus thermophilus mother strain a pool of Streptococcus thermophilus strains which are resistant to 2-deoxyglucose, and selecting and isolating from the pool of Streptococcus thermophilus strains which are resistant to 2-deoxyglucose a Streptococcus thermophilus strain which exhibits a growth rate in M17 medium+2% galactose higher than its growth rate in M17 medium+2% glucose. The strains are useful for decreasing the lactose content of a fermented food product and for boosting growth of the probiotic BB-12®.

Abstract: Variants of chymosin with improved milk-clotting properties are disclosed.