Abstract: The present invention provides alcoholic beverages which are stabilized against the growth of microorganisms whose growth may cause deterioration of the characteristics of the alcoholic beverages. The stabilized beverages are attained by utilization of a composition which includes a nisin-producing culture and a nutritional supplement in the process of making the alcoholic beverage. The composition of this invention includes nisin at a level effective for inhibiting growth of the spoilage-causing microorganisms, particularly, hardier strains of such microorganisms that may exhibit resistance to lower levels of nisin. The composition is prepared by adding to an aqueous medium, such as wort obtained in the process of making the alcoholic beverage, a nutritional supplement of a type and in an amount that is effective for increasing the yield of nisin, adjusting the pH of the wort to about 6.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for making a fat-free cream cheese-like fermentation product having similar textural and organoleptic properties similar to that of a higher fat containing cream cheese. In the process, a skim milk composition having a high solids content and a low fat content is cultured with a ropy culture until the pH reaches a value of about 5.2 to about 4.9. The cultured mixture is blended with at least one bulking agent and at least one emulsifier to form a blend, which is heated to a temperature of about 60° C. to about 65° C. After adding a vegetable gum, the heating is continued until a temperature of about 80° C. to about 90° C. is reached. The heated mixture is blended and homogenized to form the fat-free cream cheese-like fermentation product. The present composition and process does not require the addition of relatively costly cottage cheese solids or curds as required by conventional cream cheese processes.

Abstract: The present invention provides alcoholic beverages which are stabilized against the growth of microorganisms whose growth may cause deterioration of the characteristics of the alcoholic beverages. The stabilized beverages are attained by utilization of a composition which includes a nisin-producing culture and a nutritional supplement in the process of making the alcoholic beverage. The composition of this invention includes nisin at a level effective for inhibiting growth of the spoilage-causing microorganisms, particularly, hardier strains of such microorganisms that may exhibit resistance to lower levels of nisin. The composition is prepared by adding to an aqueous medium, such as wort obtained in the process of making the alcoholic beverage, a nutritional supplement of a type and in an amount that is effective for increasing the yield of nisin, adjusting the pH of the wort to about 6.

Abstract: Premium quality intermediate moisture vegetables and methods for preparing such vegetables are provided. The premium quality intermediate moisture vegetables are prepared by (a) infusing vegetables with an antimicrobial infusion cocktail at a temperature of greater than about 50° F. for about 15 to about 180 minutes, wherein the antimicrobial infusion cocktail comprises an aqueous solution of (1) a water-soluble, predominantly lower molecular weight, low sweetness carbohydrate, (2) a polyhydric alcohol, (3) salt, (4) a non-inorganic sweetness depressant agent, and (5) nisin-containing whey derived from a nisin-producing culture; (b) collecting the vegetables and removing excess antimicrobial infusion cocktail; (c) drying the collected vegetables to a water activity of about 0.5 to about 0.9 to form the intermediate moisture vegetables; and (d) packaging the intermediate moisture vegetables. After drying to a water activity of about 0.5 to about 0.

Abstract: The present invention provides a stabilized meat product of cooked meat comprising cooked meat and nisin-containing whey. The nisin-containing whey is prepared by a inoculating a pasteurized dairy composition with a culture of a nisin-producing microorganism, incubating the composition until the pH attains a value between about 6.2 and about 2.0 and a whey and curd mixture is formed, and separating the whey from the whey and curd mixture to give the separated whey which is the nisin-containing whey. The invention also provides a method of making a stabilized meat product of cooked meat, that includes preparing a composition including meat and nisin-containing whey, and cooking the composition.

Abstract: This invention provides stabilized fermented dairy compositions such as yogurt in which the development of excessive acidity and bitter tastes during storage is essentially eliminated. The stabilized compositions are attained by the incorporation of nisin-containing whey derived from a nisin-producing culture. The invention also relates to a method of preparing a fermented dairy product stabilized against the development of excessive acidity, to a method for stabilizing fermented dairy products, and to a method for stabilizing a fermented dairy product against depletion of lactose during storage. The methods include adding nisin-containing whey derived from a nisin-producing culture to the fermented dairy product. The whey is obtained from a nisin-producing culture by removing the nisin-producing microorganisms with the curds from the fermentation. The invention further provides methods which yield stabilized fermented dairy products that may be flavored and/or sweetened with syrups.

Abstract: The present invention provides a stabilized mayonnaise spread that includes nisin-containing whey. According to the invention, the growth of a contaminating microorganism in the mayonnaise composition is inhibited. The invention additionally provides a method of making a stabilized mayonnaise spread, and a method of inhibiting the growth of a contaminating microorganism in a mayonnaise spread, which methods include the step of adding nisin-containing whey to the mayonnaise.

Abstract: The present invention provides a stabilized cream cheese composition comprising a product of a nisin-producing fermentation. The product may be a cream cheese fermentation mix fermented with a nisin-producing culture, or it may be nisin-containing whey; alternatively the cream cheese composition may comprise both products. The stabilized cream cheese composition described inhibits the growth of objectionable or pathogenic microorganisms. The invention also provides a method of making a stabilized cream cheese composition, and a method of inhibiting the growth of an objectionable or pathogenic microorganism in a cream cheese composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for retaining the antimicrobial activity of the byproducts of growth of microorganisms during storage. In the method, a pasteurized low fat or skim milk substrate is provided. The substrate is inoculated with an S. lactis culture. The substrate is then fermented to cause growth of the culture and the release of metabolic byproducts, including nisin, from the culture. The fermented substrate is loaded into a container. The headspace of the container is then flushed with a quantity of an inert gas in excess of the amount required to displace all of the ambient air in the headspace. A small amount of a CO.sub.2 producing chemical, such as calcium carbonate, sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate, is mixed into the fermented substrate. The CO.sub.2 producing chemical has the effect of both stabilizing the antimicrobial activity of the cultured substrate and aiding in the release of nisin from the cells produced during fermentation of the substrate.

Abstract: A method for manufacture of pasta filata cheese from skim milk or fat reduced milk having less than about 2% fat. A culture is added to skim milk and the skim milk is fermented to provide a cultured skim milk. The cultured skim milk is dried to provide a dried cultured skim milk. The dried cultured skim milk is rehydrated by mixing the dried cultured skim milk with water. The rehydrated cultured skim milk is added to non-cultured milk having less than about 2% milk fat in a cheese vat to provide a pasta filata cheese substrate. The pasta filata cheese substrate is then used to make pasta filata cheese by any of the conventionally known methods.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for manufacture of pre-cheese that is capable of being converted into natural cheese having total solids in excess of 55%. The process includes the steps of removing moisture, salts and lactose from skim milk by a membrane process to provide a retentate having between about 70% and about 83% moisture, between about 0.7% and about 2.5% salts and less than about 1.8% lactose. Cultures capable of metabolizing lactose to lactic acid are added to the retentate and the retentate is fermented until the lactose of the retentate has been substantially converted to lactic acid. Sufficient lactose is provided to reduce the pH of the retentate to within the range of about 4.8 to about 5.6. The fermented retentate is then subjected to centrifugation to provide a concentrate having from about 30% to about 50% total solids.