Abstract: Fermented milk drinks and foods containing fermented milk components obtained by fermentation with lactic acid bacteria together with a growth promoter for lactic acid bacteria selected from among ginger extract, tea extract, green onion extract, or oleic acid and derivatives thereof, and a process for producing the fermented milk drinks and foods involving the step of culturing lactic acid bacteria in a medium containing the growth promoter for lactic acid bacteria. These fermented milk drinks and foods can contain a large number of viable cells of lactic acid bacteria and sustain the activity (acid producing ability) of the bacteria at a high level.

Abstract: Fermented milk drinks and foods containing fermented milk components obtained by fermentation with lactic acid bacteria together with a growth promoter for lactic acid bacteria selected from among ginger extract, tea extract, green onion extract, or oleic acid and derivatives thereof, and a process for producing the fermented milk drinks and foods involving the step of culturing lactic acid bacteria in a medium containing the growth promoter for lactic acid bacteria. These fermented milk drinks and foods can contain a large number of viable cells of lactic acid bacteria and sustain the activity (acid producing ability) of the bacteria at a high level.

Abstract: Fermented milk drinks and foods containing fermented milk components obtained by fermentation with lactic acid bacteria together with a growth promoter for lactic acid bacteria selected from among ginger extract, tea extract, green onion extract, or oleic acid and derivatives thereof, and a process for producing the fermented milk drinks and foods involving the step of culturing lactic acid bacteria in a medium containing the growth promoter for lactic acid bacteria. These fermented milk drinks and foods can contain a large number of viable cells of lactic acid bacteria and sustain the activity (acid producing ability) of the bacteria at a high level.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing calcium enriched fermented milk or fermented milk drink, where blockwise-type HM pectin, calcium individually together with syrup is added into lactic acid-fermented acidified milk, and then the mixture is subjected to a homogenizing treatment. Also a method for producing calcium enriched fermented milk or fermented milk drink, where lactic acid-fermented acidified milk is subjected to a homogenizing treatment, syrup and blockwise-type HM pectin is added therein and mixed, and calcium is added therein and then mixed. Moreover, it relates to calcium enriched fermented milk or fermented milk drink having excellent physical stability obtained by said methods.

Abstract: A cultured milk beverage contains at least 3.times.10.sup.8 cells/ml of at least one type of lactic acid bacterium selected from the group consisting of Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus helveticus and Lactobacillus jugurti and a mixture of a galactooligosaccharide, which is represented by the following formula:Gal-(Gal).sub.n -Glcwherein Gal means a galactose residual group, Glc denotes a glucose residual group, and n stands for an integer of 1-4, and a galactosyldisaccharide represented by the following formula:Gal-Rwherein R means a galactose residual group or a glucose residual group, and Gal has the same meaning as defined above, said galactosyldisaccharide being other than lactose. The cultured milk beverage can be produced providing the lactic acid bacterium and culturing the same to a population of at least 3.times.10.sup.

Abstract: A kefir-like fermented milk is produced from a raw material, which contains lactose and at least one sugar, by subjecting the lactose to lactic acid fermentation with a lactic acid bacterium and the sugar to alcoholic fermentation with a yeast. The alcoholic fermentation is controlled, for example, by conducting same with a lactose non-fermenting and galactose non-fermenting yeast until all assimilable sugar sources are substantially eliminated. A gelatinous kefir-like fermented milk is also produced by controlling the alcoholic fermentation to start after addition of a gelling agent.

Abstract: A fermented milk containing butter fat and a method of producing the same. The butter fat is emulsified with a saturated higher fatty acid ester of polyglycerin having an average polymerization degree of 6 or higher and having an HLB of 4 or higher.

Abstract: A lactic acid fermented food is sweetened using aspartame alone or a sweetening agent containing aspartame. The lactic acid bacteria which are used to manufacture the lactic acid fermented food and which remain in same are those selected from group A consisting of: Streptococcus cremoris, Streptococcus lactis, Streptococcus diacetilactis, Streptococcus thermophilus, Pedicoccus cerevisiae and Leuconostoc cremoris, and are never those selected from group B consisting of: Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Lactobacillus helveticus.