Stabilized dry cultures of lactic acid-producing bacteria

• US 3,897,307 A
• Filed: 10/23/1974
• Issued: 07/29/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Randolph S. Porubcan, Robert L. Sellars
• Original Assignee: Randolph S. Porubcan, Robert L. Sellars
• Inventors: Porubcan, Randolph S., Sellars, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Monacell, A. Louis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fan, C. A.
• Application Number:
  US05/517,371
• Time in Patent Office: 279 Days
• Field of Search: 195/48,99,100,56,59 426/61
• US Class Current: 426/61
• CPC Class Codes: A23C 9/1232 in powdered, granulated or dried solid form
• CPC Class Codes: A23C 9/1234 characterised by using a Lactobacillus sp. other than Lactobacillus Bulgaricus, including Bificlobacterium sp.
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/04 Preserving or maintaining viable microorganisms immobilised microorganisms C12N11/00

Abstract

The stability of dried cultures of lactic acid-producing bacteria is potentiated by incorporating in the fermented culture, prior to drying thereof, a combination of ascorbate with either glutamate or aspartate. These co-acting potentiators can be added as free acids or as water-soluble salts. The invention has particular utility in home use preparations; namely, in stabilizing dried cultures of Yogurt and/or acidophilus bacteria, either prepared as a powder for home fermentation application, or prepared as tablets for oral consumption. In general, the invention can be employed in the preparation of any dried lactic acid producing bacterial culture, including cultures for the commercial manufacture of cheese and related food products.

Claims

1. STABILIZED DRIED CULTURE MEDIUM SOLIDS PROVIDING A CONCENTRATE OF VIABLE HARMLESS LACTIC ACID-PRODUCING BACTERIA CELLS, SAID SOLIDS HAVING BEEN PREPARED BY DRYING A FERMENTED CULTURE CONTAINING SAID CELLA TOGETHER WITH OTHER SLOIDS PRESENT ON COMPLETION OF THE INCUBATION OF A CULTURE OF SAID CELLS IN AN AQUEOUS NUTRIENT-CONTAINING MEDIUM SAID MEDIUM HAVING BEEN DRIED TO A MOISTURE CONTENT OF BELOW 5% BY WEIGHT AFTER THE PH THEREOF HAS BEEN ADJUSTED TO A PH FAVORABLE TO THE STABILITY OF SAID CELLS ON DRYING, WHEREIN THE IMPROVEMENT IS CHARACTERIZED BY HAVING PRESENT IN SAID SOLIDS A COMBINATION OF STABILIZATION POTENTIATORS COMPRISING (A) AN ASCORBATE COMPOUND SELECTED FROM L-ASCORBIC ACID AND THE EDIBLE WATER-SOLUBLE SALTS THEREOF, AND (B) A SECOND POTENTIATOR SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF GLUTAMIC ACID, ASPARTIC ACID, AND THE EDIBLE WATER-SOLUBLE SALTS THEREOF, SAID POTENTIATORS HAVING BEEN DISSOLVED IN SAID FERMENTED CULTURE FOR EFFECTIVE CONTACT WITH SAID CELLS BEFORE SAID DRYING, AND IN AMOUNTS FOR SAID ASCORBATE COMPOUND EQUIVALENT ON A MOLAR BASIS TO 4 TO 20 PARTS BY WEIGHT L-ASCORDIC ACID AND FOR SAID SECOND POTENTIATOR TO 1.5 TO 20 PARTS BY WEIGHT OF MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE PER EACH 100 PARTS OF THE MOISTURE-FREE COMBINED WEIGHT OF SAID CELLS AND SAID OTHER FERMENTATION SOLIDS.

2. The stabilized dried culture medium solids of claim 1 in which said second potentiator is used in an amount equivalent on a molar basis to 3 to 15 parts by weight of monosodium glutamate per each 100 parts of the moisture-free combined weight of said cells and said other fermentation solids.

3. The stabilized dried culture medium solids of claim 1 in which said second potentiator is a glutamate compound.

4. The stabilized dried culture medium solids of claim 1 in which said second potentiator is monosodium glutamate.

5. The stabilized dried culture medium solids of claim 1 in which said bacteria cells are selected from the class consisting of Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and mixtures thereof.

6. The stabilized dried culture medium solids of claim 1 in which said bacteria cell are Lactobacillus helveticus.

7. The stabilized dried culture medium solids of claim 1 in which said bacteria cell are Streptococcus cremoris.

8. The stabilized dried culture medium solids of claim 1 in which said fermented culture has been subjected to spray drying.

9. The stabilized dried culture medium solids of claim 1 in which said fermented culture has been subjected to freeze drying, and an effective amount of a cryoprotectant is added to said fermented culture prior to said freeze drying.

10. Stabilized dried culture medium solids providing a concentrate of viable harmless lactic acid-producing bacteria cells, said solids having been prepared by drying a fermented culture containing said cells together with other solids present on completion of the incubation of a culture of said cells in an aqueous nutrient-containing medium, said medium having been dried to a moisture content of below 5% by weight after the pH thereof has been adjusted to a pH favorable to the stability of said cells on drying, wherein the improvement is characterized by having present in said solids a combination of stabilization potentiators comprising (a) an ascorbate compound selected from L-ascorbic acid and the edible water-soluble salts thereof, and (b) a second potentiator comprising a glutamate compound selected from glutamic acid and the edible water-soluble salts thereof, said potentiators having been dissolved in said fermented culture for effective contact with said cells before said drying, and in amounts for said ascorbate compound equivalent on a molar basis to 4 to 20 parts by weight L-ascrobic acid and for said second potentiator to 3 to 15 parts by weight of monosodium gluTamate per each 100 parts of the moisture-free combined weight of said cells and said other fermentation solids.

11. The stabilized dried culture medium solids of claim 10 in which said ascorbate compound is L-ascorbic acid.

12. The stabilized dried culture medium solids of claim 11 in which said glutamate compound is monosodium glutamate.

13. The stabilized dried culture medium solids of claim 12 in which said bacteria cells are selected from the class consisting of Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and mixtures thereof.

14. The stabilized dried culture medium solids of claim 12 in which said bacteria cell are Lactobacillus helveticus.

15. The stabilized dried culture medium solids of claim 12 in which said bacteria cell are Streptococcus cremoris.

16. The stabilized dried culture medium solids of claim 13 in which said fermented culture has been subjected to spray drying.

17. The stabilized dried culture medium solids of claim 13 in which said fermented culture has been subjected to freeze drying, and an effective amount of cryoprotectant is added to said fermented culture prior to said freeze drying.