Abstract: To effectively suppress pH decrease during the second half of a fermentation process. This low-acid fermented milk production method comprises a step for obtaining a fermented milk base material by adding a lactobacilli starter to a raw material mix; and a fermentation step for fermenting the fermented milk base material at 35-50° C., wherein the time required for the pH of the fermented milk base material to drop from 4.6 to 4.4 in the fermentation step is set to three hours or more. Further, the time required for the pH of the fermented milk base material to reach 4.6 after the addition of the lactobacilli starter to the raw material mix is set to nine hours or less.

Abstract: An absorbent article that enables the presence of moisture, for example, derived from urination to be correctly recognized. The absorbent article includes an outer sheet that is provided on a side facing a wearer's skin, i.e., on its side facing a liquid-absorbent structure with moisture visualizing elements. The moisture visualizing elements are formed by coating the outer sheet with hot melt composition comprising pH indicator mixed with pressure-sensitive adhesive ingredient. Two or more stripes of the hot melt composition forming the moisture visualizing elements extend in a longitudinal direction Y. Between the moisture visualizing elements and the liquid-absorbent structure, there is provided a cover sheet having a sufficient area to cover the moisture visualizing elements completely in the longitudinal direction as well as in the transverse direction and being bonded to at least one of the outer sheet and the absorbent structure.