Field of the invention

The present invention is in the field of fermented milk-based compositions, and in particular relates to yoghurt powder.

Background of the invention

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a fermented dairy base. The invention further provides a fermented dairy base obtainable by the method, and to a fermented milk powder obtainable by drying the fermented dairy base.

Fermented milk powders, especially yoghurt-type powders, are widely used in industry. Commercially relevant applications of these powders are in the manufacture of fillings, toppings or desserts or as ingredient in dried rehydratable foodstuffs. Fermented milk powders are typically produced in a process involving drying a fermented dairy base. Such fermented dairy bases are commonly obtained by culturing a dairy base in the presence of a starter comprising a strain of Streptococcus thermophilus and a strain of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus. At the start of the culturing process, the dairy base typically has a pH of between 6-7. The culturing process is typically completed at a pH of about 4.7. For some applications a pH of 4.5 or lower is required in order to obtain a desired enhanced acidity. A fermented milk powder is conveniently manufactured in a process involving (spray) drying the fermented dairy base.

The dairy base can be selected as milk per se, for example as cow milk. The content of non-fat dry milk solids in cow milk typically resides between 9-10%. In order to allow the drying process to take place as efficiently as possible, the dairy base is usually provided as a concentrated milk.

US 6, 156,353 discloses fermentation in the presence of Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus helveticus of whole cow's milk to which corn oil, sucrose, maltodextrin and starch are added. The solution that is fermented has a milk solids non fat content of about 13%.

Example 1 of US 2009/304864 discloses a method to produce a fermented dairy base in the form of a yoghurt. This yoghurt is subsequently dried to produce a yoghurt powder. The method comprises preparing a dairy base ("dairy mixture") by incorporating skimmed milk powder into milk with 0% fat to obtain a dry extract of 20%, and inoculating this composition with a strain of Streptococcus thermophilics and a strain of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus.

US 5,656,268 discloses a biological product comprising ferments of Lactobacillus bulgaricum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus casei and Streptococcus thermophilus in dry form for various applications such as in cosmetic cream, massage oil, cream for gum treatment and as food additive for improving user's health. Summary of the invention

In order to further improve the efficiency of a process comprising drying of a fermented dairy base, it would be desirable to further increase the milk solids non fat content of the dairy base from 20% up to higher levels. However, it has been observed that using conventional starter cultures for yoghurt-type fermented dairy bases comprising a strain of Streptococcus thermophilus and a strain of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, the acidification rate of the dairy base during fermentation may suddenly decrease if the milk solids non fat content of the dairy based is raised from 20% upwards even by a few percent points.

More in particular, it was found that whilst a conventional starter culture comprising a strain of Streptococcus thermophilus and a strain of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus could under commercially relevant conditions reduce the initial pH of a concentrated skim milk having a milk solids non fat content of 15-20% from a value of about 6.5 down to a value of about 4.7 within a period of 12 hours or less, the same starter culture when dosed in the same amount under the same conditions would be incapable to reduce the initial pH of a concentrated skim milk having a milk solids non fat content of 23% or higher from a value of about 6.5 down to a value of about 4.7 within 12 hours.

In an attempt to solve this problem, the present inventors surprisingly found that the incorporation of an additional strain of Lactobacillus helveticus in the starter surprisingly improved the acidification properties thereof, to the extent that the initial pH of the dairy base could be reduced from a value of about 6.5 down to a value of less than 4.7 during culturing within a period of 12 hours or less, even without having to enhance the total dosage of lactic acid bacteria to the dairy base prior to culturing. Also under conditions where practically no acidification by a starter culture comprising a strain of Streptococcus thermophilus and a strain of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus took place, it was found that the incorporation of an additional strain of Lactobacillus helveticus in the starter surprisingly did result in acidifcation and even at a commercially interesting rate. Thus, it was surpsingly found, at least, that the additional strain of Lactobacillus helveticus in the starter advantageously improved the acidification properties thereof to a significant extent, even without having to enhance the total dosage of lactic acid bacteria to the dairy base prior to culturing.

Thus, the invention provides in a first aspect a method for producing a fermented dairy base comprising culturing a composition comprising milk, which comprises a milk solids non fat content of more than 20% - more preferably of at least 21 or of at least 22%, most preferably of at least 23% - in the presence of a starter culture comprising a strain of Streptococcus thermophilus, a strain of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and a strain of Lactobacillus helveticus. The fermented dairy base thus obtained preferably has a liquid or semi-solid consistency so that it is processable into a powder preferably using spray drying equipment.

The invention further provides a fermented dairy base obtainable by the method for producing a fermented dairy base according to the present invention. Such a fermented dairy base is considered to be novel over prior art fermented dairy bases, in particular for the presence therein of viable bacteria of or genetic material originating from Lactobacillus helveticus, in addition to the further presence therein of viable bacteria of or genetic material originating from each of the strains of Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus.

The invention further provides a method for producing a powder comprising drying the fermented dairy base obtained according to the method for producing a fermented dairy base according to the present invention, and a powder obtainable by drying the fermented dairy base obtained according to the method for producing a fermented dairy base according to the present invention.

The invention also provides a frozen or freeze-dried starter culture for preparing a fermented dairy base, the starter culture comprising

a. bacteria of Streptococcus thermophilus at a total viable cell count density of at least 1.10 ⁸ cfu/g of frozen or freeze-dried starter culture, preferably of at least 1.10 ⁹ cfu/g; bacteria of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus at a total viable cell count density of at least 1.10 ⁷ cfu/g of frozen or freeze-dried starter culture, preferably at least 1.10 ⁸ cfu/g; and

bacteria of Lactobacillus helveticus at a total viable cell count density of least 1.10 ⁸ cfu/g of frozen or freeze-dried starter culture, preferably of at least 1.10 ⁹ cfu/g. The expression "cfu" stands for "colony forming units".

Detailed description of the invention

Definitions and conventions

The term "milk" is known to the skilled person and is preferably defined as the lacteal secretion obtained by the complete milking of a mammalian animal. Herein the mammalian animal is preferably selected from the group consisting of a sheep, a goat, a camel, a cow or a buffalo. The term "milk" may thus refer to sheep milk, goat milk, camel milk, cow milk, buffalo milk or a mixture thereof. In a preferred embodiment of this invention the milk comprises cow milk.

The expression "non-fat dry milk solids content" or equivalently "milk solids non fat content" or equivalently "content of milk solids non fat" is known to the skilled person and preferably relates to the total content of the proteins, carbohydrates, water- soluble vitamins and minerals contained by the milk. The content of non-fat dry milk solids of a milk can be suitably obtained as the total milk solids content of the milk minus its content of milk fat.

Unless otherwise indicated, percentages herein relate to weight/weight percentages or % (w/w). In this document and in its claims, the verb "to comprise" and its conjugations is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. In addition, reference to an element by the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the elements is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements. The indefinite article "a" or "an" thus usually means "at least one".

The expression E9, E10 etc. means 10 ⁹ , 10 ¹⁰ etc.

The determination of viable cell count density of the lactic acid bacterial strains described or claimed herein is known to the skilled person. The viable cell count density (expressed in cfu/g or in cfu/ml) of Streptococcus thermophilus is preferably determined using Streptococcus Thermophilus Isolation Agar or STA. This agar has the following composition: Casein enzymic hydrolysate 10.0 g/1; Yeast extract 5.0 g/1; Sucrose 10.0 g/1; Dipotassium phosphate 2.0 g/1; Agar 15.0 g/1; Final pH 6.8 +/- 0.2 at 25°C. Cultural characteristics after anaerobic incubation for 48-72 hours at 35-37°C. STA is conventiently obtained as Fluka cat.# 17257 Streptococcus Thermophilus Isolation Agar from Sigma-Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Industriestrasse 25, Postfach CH- 9471 Buchs, Switzerland. In a mixed culture or in a frozen pellet comprising a mixture of Streptococcus thermophilus and lactobacilli, streptococci and lactobacilli can be together enumerated on the same STA plate; streptococci are counted as smooth, round colonies and lactobacilli are counted as fluffy colonies. In a single strain culture or in a frozen pellet comprising a single strain, the viable cell count density (expressed in cfu/g or in cfu/ml) of lactobacilli, especially of Lactobacillus helveticus is preferably determined using tryptone glucose meat extract agar for example as detailed by Galesloot, T. E., F. Hassing, and J. Stadhouders. 1961. Neth. Milk Dairy J. 15: 127-150. Cultural characteristics are conveniently identifiable after incubation for 2-3 days at 37°C.

The phrase ^' majority ^' as used herein means more than 50%.

Further embodiments of the method according to the invention

Prior to culturing, the composition comprising milk is preferably inoculated with the starter culture to provide (1) an initial viable cell count of Streptococus thermophilus of at least 1.10 ⁴ cfu per ml of composition comprising milk, more preferably of 5.10 ⁴ -1.10 ⁸ cfu per ml of composition comprising milk, or (2) an initial viable cell count of Lactobacillus helveticus of at least 5.10 ⁴ cfu per ml of composition comprising milk, preferably of between 5.10 ⁴ -1.10 ⁹ cfu per ml of composition comprising milk, or (3) an initial viable cell count of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus of at least 1.10 ³ cfu per ml of composition comprising milk, preferably 1.10 ⁴ -1.10 ⁸ cfu per ml of composition comprising milk. In one embodiment it is preferred that prior to culturing, the composition comprising milk is inoculated with the starter culture to provide (1) an initial viable cell count of Streptococus thermophilus of at least 1.10 ⁴ cfu per ml of composition comprising milk, more preferably of 5.10 ⁴ - 1.10 ⁸ cfu per ml of composition comprising milk, and (2) an initial viable cell count of Lactobacillus helveticus of at least 5.10 ⁴ cfu per ml of composition comprising milk, preferably of between 5.10 ⁴ -1.10 ⁹ cfu per ml of composition comprising milk, and (3) an initial viable cell count of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus of at least 1.10 ³ cfu per ml of composition comprising milk, preferably 1.10 ⁴ -1.10 ⁸ cfu per ml of composition comprising milk.

Additionally or alternatively hereto, prior to culturing, the composition comprising milk is preferably inoculated with the starter culture to provide a total initial viable cell count density of Streptococcus thermophilus and of Lactobacillus subsp. of at most 5.10 ⁷ cfu per ml of composition comprising milk, preferably of at most 1.10 ⁷ cfu per ml of composition comprising milk. The presence of Lactobacillus helveticus as an adjunct culture allows for conveniently low dosages of the starter culture whilst still providing sufficient acidification activity thereof.

For good acidification a minimum total initial viable cell count density of Streptococcus thermophilus and of Lactobacillus subsp. of preferably at least 1.10 ⁴ cfu per ml of composition comprising milk, more preferably of at least 5.10 ⁴ cfu per ml of dairy base, most preferably at least 1.10 ⁵ cfu per ml of composition comprising milk is recommended.

The starter culture is preferably provided as a frozen or freeze-dried starter culture comprising

a. bacteria of Streptococcus thermophilus at a total viable cell count density of at least 1.10 ⁸ cfu/g, preferably of at least 1.10 ⁹ cfu/g;

b. bacteria of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus at a total viable cell count density of at least 1.10 ⁷ cfu/g, preferably at least 1.10 ⁸ cfu/g; and

c. bacteria of Lactobacillus helveticus at a total viable cell count density of least 1.10 ⁸ cfu/g, preferably of at least 1.10 ⁹ cfu/g.

Herein, the expression cfu/g means "colony forming units per gram of starter culture".

In one embodiment it is preferred that the starter culture is provided as a frozen starter culture which comprises

a. frozen pellets comprising bacteria of Streptococcus thermophilus;

b. frozen pellets comprising bacteria of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus; and

c. frozen pellets comprising bacteria of Lactobacillus helveticus. In one embodiment, the majority of the frozen pellets, when analysed individually, preferably comprises no mixture of Streptococcus thermophilus and of Lactobacillus subsp. bulgaricus in a viable cell count ratio of between 1 :2 - 2: 1. In one embodiment it is preferred that the majority of the frozen pellets, when analysed individually, further comprises no mixture of Streptococcus thermophilus and of Lactobacillus helveticus in a viable cell count ratio of between 1 :2 - 2: 1. Such a culture is conveniently obtained by mixing different cultures, preferably in frozen pellet form, each comprising a strain of Streptococcus thermophilus, of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and of Lactobacillus helveticus, respectively. For example, such a culture comprises at least three different types of pellets, wherein type 1 comprises only Streptococcus thermophilus, type 2 comprises only Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and type 3 comprises only Lactobacillus helveticus. Yoghurt starter cultures comprising frozen pellets of type 1 mixed with pellets of type 2 are commercially available, for example as Y 104, ex CSK Food Enrichment BV, The Netherlands. A starter culture comprising frozen pellets of Lactobacillus helveticus is commercially available, for example as LI 00, CSK Food Enrichment BV, The Netherlands.

In other words, in one embodiment, the majority of the frozen pellets, when analysed individually, preferably comprises a mixture of Streptococcus thermophilus and of Lactobacillus subsp. bulgaricus in a viable cell count ratio of smaller than 1 :2 or greater than 2: 1. In one embodiment it is preferred that the majority of the frozen pellets, when analysed individually, further comprises a mixture of Streptococcus thermophilus and of Lactobacillus helveticus in a viable cell count ratio of smaller than 1 :2 or greater than 2: 1.

In another embodiment, at least 10% of the frozen pellets, when analysed individually, preferably comprises a mixture of Streptococcus thermophilus and of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus in a viable cell count ratio of greater than 1 :2 or smaller then 2: 1. Such a culture is conveniently obtained by mixing at least 10% of a traditional yoghurt culture with a culture of Lactobacillus helveticus, each in frozen pellet form. A traditional yoghurt culture is a yoghurt culture which is obtainable by a method comprising co-culturing of strains of Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus. Examples of traditional yoghurt cultures include Y200 and Y700, each commercially available from CSK Food Enrichment BV, The Netherlands. The composition comprising milk preferably comprises a milk solids non fat content of at least 25%, more preferably of at least 30%, yet more preferably of at least 33%). In practising the method according to the invention, assuming a certain fixed capacity of the fermentation equipment, increasing the high milk solids non fat content of the composition comprising milk allows a more efficient use of the fermentation equipment.

The composition comprising milk preferably comprises a milk solids non fat content of less than 60%>, more preferably of less than 50%, most preferably of less than 45%) or even of less than 40%. In order to process the fermented dairy base further, e.g. for packaging or drying purposes, it is preferred that the fermented dairy base has a sufficiently low viscosity. Thereto the milk solids non fat content of the dairy base is preferably not excessive.

In one embodiment, the composition comprising milk preferably comprises a milk solids non fat content of at least 25%, more preferably of at least 28%> and of at most 40%, more preferably of at most 35%, more preferably from 28-32%.

The composition comprising milk preferably comprises water in an amount of 40-77%, more preferably in an am and wherein the composition comprising milk comprises fat in an amount of 0-15%, preferably in an amount of 0.1-10%.

Preferably the composition comprising milk comprises less than 5 wt.%> sucrose, preferably less than 3 wt.%, more preferably less than 1 wt.%, based on dry weight and/or less than 5 wt.% glucose, preferably less than 3 wt.%, more preferably less than 1 wt.%, based on dry weight. Preferably the composition comprising milk comprises less than 5 wt.% maltodextrin, preferably less than 3 wt.%, more preferably less than 1 wt.%, based on dry weight. In a preferred embodiment, the composition comprising milk comprises less than 5 wt.% mono- and disaccharides other than lactose, preferably less than 3 wt.%, more preferably less than 1 wt.% mono- and disaccharides other than lactose based on dry weight.

Very good results in terms of acidification properties were obtained when the composition comprising milk was cultured at a temperature of between 37-50 °C, and even better at a temperature of between 37-45 °C, and very advantageous at a temperature of between 39-45 °C, or even 40-45 °C, and even more advantageous at a temperature form 40-43 °C, such as at around 42-44 °C. Thus in one embodiment according to the present method for producing a fermented dairy base, the composition comprising milk is cultured at a temperature of between 37-50 °C, more preferably at a temperature of between 37-45 °C, more preferably at a temperature of between 39-45 °C, even more preferably at a temperature of between 39-44 °C, even more preferably at a temperature of 40-45 °C, and even more preferably at a temperature from 40-43 °C, or at a temperature such as at around 42-44 °C.

Preferred embodiments of the fermented dairy base and of dried products and methods for producing said products.

The fermented dairy base is preferably obtainable according to any one of the preferred embodiments of the method as defined above. The method for producing a powder preferably comprises drying a fermented dairy base which is obtainable according to any one of the preferred embodiments of the method. The powder is preferably obtainable by drying the fermented dairy base which is obtainable according to any one of the preferred embodiments of the method. Drying can be performed according to conventional drying techniques know the skilled person. In a preferred embodiment drying is performed by spray-drying. The powder is preferably indicated as a yoghurt powder.

Preferably the dried product, more preferably the powder, according to the invention comprises less than 5 wt.% sucrose, preferably less than 3 wt.%, more preferably less than 1 wt.%, based on dry weight and/or less than 5 wt.% glucose, preferably less than 3 wt.%, more preferably less than 1 wt.%, based on dry weight. Preferably the dried product, more preferably the powder, according to the invention comprises less than 5 wt.% maltodextrin, preferably less than 3 wt.%, more preferably less than 1 wt.%, based on dry weight. In a preferred embodiment, the dried product, more preferably the powder, according to the invention comprises less than 5 wt.% mono- and disaccharides other than lactose, preferably less than 3 wt.%, more preferably less than 1 wt.% mono- and disaccharides other than lactose, based on dry weight. Preferred embodiments of the starter culture

In a preferred embodiment, the frozen or freeze-dried starter culture according to the invention comprises less than 1.10 ⁶ cfu/g, preferably less than 10 ³ cfu/g, Propionibacteria. Also in a preferred embodiment, the frozen or freeze-dried starter culture according to the invention comprises less than 1.10 ⁶ cfu/g, preferably less than 10 ³ cfu/g, Lactococcus spp. Also in a preferred embodiment, the frozen or freeze-dried starter culture according to the invention comprises less than 1.10 ⁶ cfu/g, preferably less than 10 ³ cfu/g, Leuconostoc spp. Also in a preferred embodiment, the frozen or freeze-dried starter culture according to the invention comprises less than 1.10 ⁶ cfu/g, preferably less than 10 ³ cfu/g, Lactobacillus casei.

In a preferred embodiment, the starter culture is a frozen starter culture which comprises

a. frozen pellets comprising bacteria of Streptococcus thermophilus;

b. frozen pellets comprising bacteria of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus; and

c. frozen pellets comprising bacteria of Lactobacillus helveticus.

In a preferred embodiment, the frozen starter culture according to the invention comprises less than 1.10 ⁶ cfu/g, preferably less than 10 ³ cfu/g, Propionibacteria. Also in a preferred embodiment, the frozen starter culture according to the invention comprises less than 1.10 ⁶ cfu/g, preferably less than 10 ³ cfu/g, Lactococcus spp. Also in a preferred embodiment, the frozen starter culture according to the invention comprises less than 1.10 ⁶ cfu/g, preferably less than 10 ³ cfu/g, Leuconostoc spp. Also in a preferred embodiment, the frozen starter culture according to the invention comprises less than 1.10 ⁶ cfu/g, preferably less than 10 ³ cfu/g, Lactobacillus casei.

In a preferred embodiment, the starter culture is obtained by mixing a first type of pellets comprising bacteria of Streptococcus thermophilus with a second type of pellets comprising bacteria of Lactobacillus helveticus. The pellets comprising bacteria of Streptococcus thermophilus may further comprise bacteria of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus; additionally or alternatively, in one embodiment a further type of pellets comprising bacteria of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus is admixed.

Accordingly as explained above the majority of the frozen pellets, when analysed individually, preferably comprise no mixture of Streptococcus thermophilus and of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus in a viable cell count ratio of between 1 :2 - 2: 1. It is especially preferred that the majority of the frozen pellets, when analysed individually, further comprise no mixture of Streptococcus thermophilus and of Lactobacillus helveticus in a viable cell count ratio of between 1 :2 - 2: 1. In one embodiment, when analysed individually, the frozen pellets preferably comprise a mixture of Streptococcus thermophilics and of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus in a viable cell count ratio of smaller than 1 :2 or greater than 2: 1. In one embodiment it is preferred that the frozen pellets, when analysed individually, further comprise a mixture of Streptococcus thermophilus and of Lactobacillus helveticus in a viable cell count ratio of smaller than 1 :2 or greater than 2: 1.

In a preferred embodiment, the frozen starter culture comprises a cryoprotectant or cryoprotective agent. The term cryoprotectant is known in the art and denotes a substance that is able to improve the storage stability of the frozen starter culture. In a prefeered embodiment the cryoprotectant is a carbohydrate. Preferably the cryoprotectant is a carbohydrate selected from monosaccharides, more preferably selected from ribose, xylose, fructose, mannose, sorbose and glucose, disaacharides, more preferably selected from sucrose, trehalose, melibiose and lactulose, oliogosacchrdies, more preferbly selected form oligofructoses, polysacchrides, more preferably selected fom maltodextrins, xanthan gum, pectin, alginate micorcrystaline cellulose, dextrans and poly-ethylene glycol, and sugar alcohols, more preferably selected from sorbitol and mannitol, and or mixtures thereof. More preferably the cryoprotectant is selected form threhalose and sucrose and even more preferably the cryoprotectant is sucrose. Preferably the cryoprotectant is present in the frozen starter culture in an amount from 1 to 13 wt.% based on weight of the frozen starter culture.

Generalisation of the invention.

It is contemplated that the invention may be defined more broadly in that the strain of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, although contributing to a certain desired yoghurt flavour, is not mandatorily present in order to achieve an enhanced acidification rate of a concentrated composition comprising milk. Thus, the invention in a more generalised form provides in a first generalised aspect a method for producing a fermented dairy base comprising culturing a composition comprising milk, which comprises a milk solids non fat content of at least 20% - more preferably of at least 21 or of at least 22%, most preferably of at least 23% - in the presence of a starter culture comprising a strain of Streptococcus thermophilus and a strain of Lactobacillus helveticus. The fermented dairy base thus obtained preferably has a liquid or semi-solid consistency so that it is processable into a powder, preferably using spray drying equipment.

In further generalised form, the invention further provides a fermented dairy base obtainable by the method defined above. Such a fermented dairy base is considered to be novel over prior art fermented dairy bases, in particular for the presence therein of viable bacteria of or genetic material originating from Lactobacillus helveticus, in addition to the further presence therein of viable bacteria of or genetic material originating from the strain of Streptococcus thermophilus. The invention further provides a method for producing a fermented milk powder comprising drying the fermented dairy base.

In particular for the invention in generalised form the following preferred embodiments can be defined as clauses:

1. A method for producing a fermented dairy base comprising culturing a composition comprising milk, which comprises a milk solids non fat content of least 23%, in the presence of a starter culture comprising a strain of Streptococcus thermophilus and a strain of Lactobacillus helveticus.

2. The method according to clause 2, wherein prior to culturing, the composition comprising milkis inoculated with the starter culture to provide an initial viable cell count of Streptococus thermophilus of at least 1.10 ⁴ cfu per ml of composition comprising milk, more preferably of 5.10 ⁴ -1.10 ^s cfu per ml of composition comprising milk.

3. The method according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein prior to culturing, the composition comprising milkis inoculated with the starter culture to provide an initial viable cell count of Lactobacillus helveticus of at least 5.10 ⁴ cfu per ml of composition comprising milk, preferably of between 5.10 ⁴ -1.10 ⁹ cfu per ml of composition comprising milk.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein the starter culture further comprises a strain of Lactobacillus delbrueckki subsp. bulgaricus and wherein prior to culturing, the composition comprising milkis inoculated with the starter culture to provide an initial viable cell count of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus of at least 1.10 ³ cfu per ml of composition comprising milk, preferably 1.10 ⁴ -1.10 ⁸ cfu per ml of composition comprising milk. 5. The method according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein the starter culture is defined in any one of clauses 12-15.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein the composition comprising milkcomprises a milk solids non fat content of at least 25%, more preferably of at least 30%, yet more preferably of at least 33%.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein the composition comprising milk comprises water in an amount of 40-77%) and wherein the composition comprising milk comprises fat in an amount of 0-15%, preferably in an amount of 0.1-10%).

8. The method according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein prior to culturing, the composition comprising milkis inoculated with the starter culture to provide a total initial viable cell count density of Streptococcus thermophilus and of Lactobacillus subsp. of at most 5.10 ⁷ cfu per ml of composition comprising milk, preferably of at most 1.10 ⁷ cfu per ml of composition comprising milk.

9. A fermented dairy base obtainable by the method as defined in any one of the preceding clauses.

10. A method for producing a powder comprising drying the fermented dairy base obtained in the method as defined in any one of clauses 1-8.

11. A powder obtainable by the method as defined in clause 10.

12. A frozen or freeze-dried starter culture for preparing a fermented dairy base, the starter culture comprising

a. bacteria of Streptococcus thermophilus at a total viable cell count density of at least 1.10 ⁸ cfu/g of frozen or freeze-dried starter culture, preferably of at least 1.10 ⁹ cfu/g; and

b. bacteria of Lactobacillus helveticus at a total viable cell count density of least

1.10 ⁸ cfu/g of frozen or freeze-dried starter culture, preferably of at least 1.10 ⁹ cfu/g.

13. The frozen or freeze-dried starter culture for preparing a fermented dairy base according to clause 12, wherein the starter culture further comprises bacteria of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus at a total viable cell count density of at least 1.10 ⁷ cfu/g of frozen or freeze-dried starter culture, preferably at least 1.10 ⁸ cfu/g. 14. The frozen starter culture according to any one of clauses 12-13, wherein, the starter culture comprises

a. frozen pellets comprising bacteria of Streptococcus thermophilics;

b. frozen pellets comprising bacteria of Lactobacillus helveticus; and, if present, c. frozen pellets comprising bacteria of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus.

15. The starter culture according to clause 14 wherein the majority of the frozen pellets, when analysed individually, comprises no mixture of Streptococcus thermophilus and of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus in a viable cell count ratio of between 1 :2 - 2: 1.

16. The starter culture according to any one of clauses 13-14 wherein the majority of the frozen pellets, when analysed individually, comprises no mixture of Streptococcus thermophilus and of Lactobacillus helveticus in a viable cell count ratio of between 1 :2 - 2: 1.

Examples

Materials

Skimmed milk was concentrated by a treatment involving evaporative water removal to obtain a product containing 36% milk solids. This product was diluted with water to obtain a first milk-based composition, i.e. composition comprising milk, containing 26% milk solids ("milk base 1"). A second milk-based composition, i.e. composition comprising milk ("milk base 2") was provided by diluting milk base 1 with water to obtain a milk solids non fat content of 15%. Another milk-based composition, i.e. composition comprising milk ("milk base A") was provided by diluting the skimmed milk concentrate of 36% milk solids with water to obtain a milk solids non fat content of 30%. A further milk-based composition, i.e. composition comprising milk ("milk base B") was provided by diluting the skimmed milk concentrate of 36% milk solids with water to obtain a milk solids non fat content of 34%). The milk bases were pasteurized by subjecting them to heating at 85 deg.C for 5 minutes.

The frozen concentrated cultures Y700, L600 and LI 00 are commercially obtainable from CSK Food Enrichment BV, The Netherlands. Y700, L600 and LI 00 are commercially provided in the form of frozen pellets. Y700 is a frozen yoghurt starter culture in pellet form comprising bacteria of Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus. The batch of Y700 used in the present example comprises Streptococcus thermophilus at a total viable cell count density of 7.4E9 cfu/g and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus at a viable cell count density of 1.7E9 cfu/g. S. thermophilus and L. bulgaricus were enumerated on STA plates.

LlOO is a frozen culture in pellet form comprising bacteria of Lactobacillus helveticus. The batch of LlOO used in the present example comprises Lactobacillus helveticus at a viable cell count density of 4.3E10 cfu/g of frozen culture.

L600 is a frozen culture in pellet form comprising bacteria of Lactobacillus helveticus. The batch of L600 used in the present example comprises Lactobacillus helveticus at a viable cell count density of 2.3E10 cfu/g of frozen culture. Methods

In a first set of experiments, yoghurt-type fermented dairy products ("fermented dairy bases" within the context of the present invention) were prepared by inoculating milk base 1 and 2, respectively, with a starter culture comprising Y700 alone or in a mixture with LlOO. The inoculated milk bases thus produced were cultured at a temperature of 40 deg.C for 17 hours and the pH was monitored over time. The initial pH of the milk bases was 6.45 +/- 0.10. The time for reaching a pH value of 4.7 was determined.

In a second set of experiments, yoghurt-type fermented dairy products ("fermented dairy bases" within the context of the present invention) were prepared by inoculating milk bases A and B, respectively, with a starter culture comprising Y700 alone or in a mixture with L600. The inoculated milk bases thus produced were cultured at temperatures of 40 deg.C and 43 deg.C for 24 hours and the pH was monitored over time. The initial pH of the milk bases was 6.45 +/- 0.10. The time needed for reaching pH values of 4.8 and 4.4, respectively, was determined. Results.

The results for the first set of experiments are summarised in Table 1.

Table 1

Surprisingly, the added strains of Lactobacillus helveticus have only little (if any) effect on the time needed to lower the pH of the milk base with the lowest milk solids non fat content of 15% from a value of 6.45 initially to a value of pH 4.7. By contrast, the impact of the added strain of Lactobacillus helveticus in the acidification rate of the more concentrated milk base having 26% milk solids non fat content is very significant.

It has been found that a conventional yoghurt culture such as Y700 at the indicated dosage is capable to achieve an acceptable acidification rate (pH 4.7 within at most 12 hours) in a milk base having a milk solids content of up to 20-22%). If the milk solids non fat content is higher than 22%, acidification rate falls short and an added strain of Lactobacillus helveticus is needed to significantly reduce the time needed to lower the pH down to a value of 4.7.

The results for the second set of experiments are summarised in Tables 2A and 2B. The dosage was 500 g of starter culture per 5000 litres of milk base. Table 2A

*) Acidification curve is almost flat

Thus, also in this example it is demonstrated that an added strain of Lactobacillus helveticus (in this example L600) has significant influence in reducing the acidification rate of a yoghurt starter culture in fermenting highly concentrated milk bases having 30% or 34% milk solids non fat content, as compared to experiments involving the yoghurt culture without the added strain of Lactobacillus helveticus.