Dry food product containing live probiotic
The disclosure relates to a probiotic delivery system that can be consumed as a snack-food or added to a food product. In particular, the disclosure describes a crisp and tasty treat that comprises viable probiotic microorganisms preserved in a vacuum dried matrix of sugars, proteins, and polysaccharides. The probiotic remain viable within the treat for a longer time without the need for additional moisture barrier coating. The probiotic also remain viable in the animal gastrointestinal tract.
1. A probiotic substance comprising particles, each of which comprises viable probiotic bacteria embedded in a dried matrix, wherein the dried matrix is a mixture comprising:
at least one sugar, wherein the at least one sugar comprises trehalose, wherein the total amount of sugar in the dried matrix is from about 20% to about 60% by weight of the dried matrix;
at least one protein, wherein the total amount of protein in the dried matrix is from about 2% to about 20% by weight of the dried matrix and wherein the at least one protein comprises egg white, soy protein isolate, soy protein hydrolysate or a combination thereof;
at least one polysaccharide, wherein the at least one polysaccharide comprises an alginate; and
optionally additional functional ingredients;
wherein the total amount of polysaccharide in the dried matrix is from about 0.5% to about 5% by weight of the dried matrix;
wherein the probiotic substance is prepared by a process comprising:
a) mixing the probiotic bacteria with the at least one sugar, the at least one protein, the at least one polysaccharide and optionally the additional functional ingredients to obtain a slurry, and optionally adding a crosslinking chemical to form a gel in a desired shape and form; and
b) vacuum drying the slurry or the gel, wherein the vacuum drying comprises setting the temperature of the probiotic substance above its freezing temperature and vacuum drying at reduced pressure at a shelf temperature of from 5-50° C. and then gradually decreasing the pressure, as the temperature of the probiotic substance increases, down to a pressure of about 100 mTorr while maintaining the shelf temperature from 5-50° C.
2. The probiotic substance according to claim 1 , wherein the crosslinking chemical is added.
3. The probiotic substance according to claim 2 , wherein the loss of probiotic activity upon exposure to simulated gastric juice (pH=1.2) at 37° C. for 2 hours is at least 1.5log less than for probiotic material not embedded in the dried matrix.
4. The probiotic substance according to claim 1 , wherein the dried matrix has a water activity below 0.2.
5. The probiotic substance according to claim 1 , comprising 10 5 to 10 14 viable micro-organisms per gram of probiotic substance.
6. The probiotic substance according to claim 1 , wherein the loss of probiotic activity during the process is less than 1.87 log.
7. The probiotic substance according to claim 1 , wherein the probiotic substance is coated with a moisture barrier comprising a food-grade substance having water-repelling or water-impermeable properties.
8. The probiotic substance according to claim 7 , wherein the moisture barrier is selected from the group consisting of oils, waxes and fats.
9. A human food product comprising a foodstuff and one or several probiotic substances according to claim 1 .
10. The human food product of claim 9 , wherein the food product is in a moist or dry form.
11. The human food product of claim 9 , wherein the food product is in a powdered, particulate, pellet, tablet, bar, capsule, hydrogel or liquid form.
12. The human food product of claim 9 , wherein the food product is a cereal, a treat, a nutraceutical food additive or a pharmaceutical food additive.
13. An animal feed product comprising a feedstuff and one or several probiotic substances according to claim 1 .
14. The animal feed product of claim 13 , wherein the feed product is in a moist or dry form.
15. The animal feed product of claim 13 , wherein the feed product is in powdered, particulate, pellet, tablet, capsule, hydrogel or liquid form.
16. The animal feed product of claim 13 , wherein the feed product is a treat, nutraceutical feed additive or a pharmaceutical feed additive.
17. The animal feed product of claim 13 , wherein the animal feed is terrestrial or aquatic animal feed.
18. The probiotic substance according to claim 1 , wherein the total amount of the sugar, protein and polysaccharide is from about 50% to about 85% by weight of the dried matrix.
19. A probiotic substance comprising particles, each of which comprises viable probiotic bacteria embedded in a dried matrix, wherein the dried matrix is a mixture comprising:
at least one sugar, wherein the at least one sugar comprises trehalose, wherein the total amount of sugar in the dried matrix is from about 20% to about 60% by weight of the dried matrix;
at least one protein, wherein the total amount of protein in the dried matrix is from about 2% to about 20% by weight of the dried matrix and wherein the at least one protein comprises egg white, soy protein isolate, soy protein hydrolysate or a combination thereof;
at least one polysaccharide, wherein the at least one polysaccharide comprises an alginate; and
optionally additional functional ingredients;
wherein the total amount of polysaccharide in the dried matrix is from about 0.5% to about 5% by weight of the dried matrix; and
wherein the probiotic substance has probiotic activity representing a loss of less than 1.87 log relative to the activity of the probiotic bacteria from which the probiotic substance was prepared.