Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a fermented milk product comprising adding lactic acid bacteria to milk, wherein the bacteria comprise Lactobacillus casei and at least one further strain of lactic acid bacteria of a species other than Lactobacillus casei, wherein the further strain has a deficiency in lactose metabolism but is capable of metabolizing one or several carbohydrates other than lactose present in the milk.

Abstract: Process for producing an ambient storage food product comprising providing a food product with a pH of between 3.4 and 4.4, subjecting the food product to a heat treatment to obtain a heat treated food product, adding aseptically to the heat treated food product one or more of ambient storage lactic acid bacteria strains to obtain an ambient storage food product, and storing the ambient storage food product at ambient temperature for a period of time, wherein the ambient storage lactic acid bacteria strain is selected from the group consisting of strains, (i) wherein the strain is capable of retaining viability at the end of 150 days at a temperature of 25#C, and (ii) wherein the pH at most decreases 0.8 units during the storage period, and (iii) wherein the strain is selected from the group consisting of Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus fermentum and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, and mutants and variants thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition for producing a fermented milk product showing a low degree of post-acidification during storage comprising ? 1) a starter culture of lactic acid bacteria comprising at least one lactose-deficient Streptococcus thermophilus strain, which is capable of metabolizing a non-lactose carbohydrate, and at least one lactose-deficient Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus strain, which is capable of metabolizing the non-lactose carbohydrate, and ? 2) a probiotic strain selected from the group consisting of Lactobacillus strain and a Bifidobacterium strain.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a fermented milk product comprising the steps of 1) adding a starter culture comprising at least one lactic acid bacteria strain to a milk base, 2) fermenting the milk for a period of time until a target pH is reached, 3) using a starter culture comprising at least one lactose-deficient strain, which is capable of metabolizing a non-lactose carbohydrate, and 4) adding a low pH stable lactase to the process either at the start, during or at the end of the fermentation step, wherein the low pH stable lactase retains its activity at a pH of 5.0 and a temperature of 37° C. at a level of at least 5% as compared to its activity at the optimum pH of the lactase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a fermented milk product comprising adding lactic acid bacteria to milk, wherein the bacteria comprise Lactobacillus casei and at least one further strain of lactic acid bacteria of a species other than Lactobacillus casei, wherein the further strain has a deficiency in lactose metabolism but is capable of metabolizing one or several carbohydrates other than lactose present in the milk.