Development of an Oriental-style dairy product coagulated by microcapsules containing probiotics and filtrates from fermented rice

The objectives of this study were to microencapsulate both probiotics and culture filtrates by spray drying to maintain enzyme activity and probiotic viability during storage. Thus, probiotics and culture filtrates from lao-chao were microencapsulated by spray drying with various outlet air temperatures, and the milk-clotting activity, survival of probiotics and physical properties of the microcapsules were determined. The end purpose was to create easy-to-use probiotic Kou Woan Loa cultures. In the near future, manufacturing probiotic Kou Woan Loa could be carried out by simply mixing milk with 5% microcapsules and waiting for 1 h for coagulation, which would be time saving and convenient. The present study has shown that microencapsulation of Lactobacillus acidophilus BCRC 14079, Bifidobacterium longum BCRC 14605 and culture filtrates from lao-chao by spray drying could provide a good protection for both milk-clotting enzymes and probiotics. The average of microcapsules size and density was 10 mu m and 1.68 g/cm(3), respectively. An increase in the microencapsulation efficiency of microcapsules and lower water activity was found when the outlet air temperature was raised. However, the survival of L. acidophilus and B. longum was reduced as the outlet air temperature increased. The numbers of probiotics were maintained above the recommended therapeutic minimum (10(7) cfu/g) throughout storage.