Abstract: A nutrient composition for administration to patients in, for example, feeding by tube, or for use as a health drink is described. The nutrient composition comprises a fermented cereal-based product, enzyme and, optionally, further nutrient components, in combination with lactobacilli. Also described is a method of preparing a nutrient composition for administration to patients, inter alia in feeding by tube, or for use as a health drink, in which method a cereal flour is mixed with water, a-amylase and, optionally, a protease, the mixture is brought to the boil under agitation, allowed to cool and mixed with B-glucanase which is allowed to act until the viscosity of the mixture has decreased to below 0.020 Pas, whereupon the mixture is fermented.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a process for the microbiological modification of hardwood in that a microorganism, or an enzymatically active preparation thereof, specially selected for the hardwood in question, is supplied to the surface of the wood for attack thereof under carefully regulated conditions as regards temperature, relative moisture content, O.sub.2 content and CO.sub.2 content. Thereafter, the process is discontinued in a suitable manner, for example by treatment with steam or hot water, followed by drying; or by drying only.