Application of Bifidobacterium spp in beverages and dairy food products: an overview of survival during refrigerated storage

Abstract The food industry has established a number of food and beverage products containing probiotic strains. A probiotic strain should maintain stability in the food product during processing and also during subsequent storage. Bifidobacteria are probiotic commonly found throughout the colon of both humans, animals and are considered normal residents of the gastrointestinal tract. These bacteria have important health functions. Thus, the incorporation of bifidobacteria has been shown to enhance the therapeutic value of food and beverage products. It is highly desirable that the viable counts of Bifidobacterium spp in the final product to be at least 106-107 cfu/ml to offering health benefits to the consumers. Therefore, the objective of this study is to review the applications of Bifidobacterium spp in beverages and dairy food products and the effect of different food matrices on their survival during the storage.