Heat resistant probiotic compositions and healthy food comprising them

Abstract

The invention provides granules of probiotic microorganisms for admixing into healthy food, wherein the microorganisms are stabilized to survive heat processing of the food. Healthy food provided by the invention includes pastry, bread, dairy products, and others.

1 . A probiotic granule comprising
 i) a core comprising probiotic microorganisms;   ii) an inner oily layer coating said core; and   iii) a first outer layer and a second outer layer, which outer layers coat said core and said inner layer, in which said first outer layer comprises an enteric coating layer and said second outer layer comprises at least one water soluble gel forming polymer and at least one water insoluble polymer, in which the water insoluble polymer is embedded in the water soluble polymer.   
     
     
         2 . A probiotic granule according to  claim 1 , wherein said first outer layer confers stability to said microorganisms under the conditions of upper gastrointestinal tract, and said second outer layer increases the stability of said microorganisms in said core at an increased temperature. 
     
     
         3 . A probiotic granule according to  claim 1 , wherein said substrate comprises one or more components selected from saccharides and additional agents. 
     
     
         4 . A probiotic granule according to  claim 3 , wherein said agents are selected from stabilizer, chelator, synergistic agent, antioxidant, and pH regulator, and wherein said saccharides comprise prebiotic oligosaccharides. 
     
     
         5 . A probiotic granule according to  claim 1 , wherein one of said outer layers comprises a fibrous polysaccharide. 
     
     
         6 . A probiotic granule according to  claim 1 , wherein one of said outer layers comprises a gelatinous polysaccharide. 
     
     
         7 . A probiotic granule according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one intermediate layer positioned between said oily layer and said second outer layer. 
     
     
         8 . A probiotic granule according to  claim 1 , comprising at least one outermost coating layer as a final exterior coating layer for providing further protection against humidity and moisture positioned onto said second outer layer. 
     
     
         9 . A probiotic granule according to  claim 1 , wherein said microorganisms comprise a genus selected from  Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Bacillus, Escherichia, Streptococcus, Diacetylactis , and  Saccharomyces , or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         10 . A method for manufacturing the granule of  claim 1 , comprising: combining a probiotic microorganisms in an aqueous suspension or as a dry mix with supplemental agents for the microorganisms, thereby obtaining a core combination; coating particles of said core combination with an oily layer, thereby obtaining oil-coated particles; coating said oil-coated particles with a first polymer layer, which first polymer layer confers stability to said microorganisms under the conditions of upper gastrointestinal tract, thereby obtaining particles coated with two layers; and coating said two-layer particles with a second polymer layer, which second polymer layer increases the stability of the microorganisms in said core under the conditions of baking. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said combining said microorganisms further comprises preparing a hot melt. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said preparing said hot melt comprises preparing hot melt granulation. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said combining said microorganisms further comprises preparing a dry mix with said supplemental agents. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said combining further comprises preparing a hot melt granulation from said dry mix. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein each of said coating stages results in a mass increase of from 10 to 100% relatively to the mass of said core. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 10 , comprising
 i) mixing an aqueous suspension of probiotic microorganisms comprising at least one genus selected from  Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Bacillus, Escherichia, Streptococcus, Diacetylactis , and  Saccharomyces , or a mixture thereof with at least one supplemental agent, thereby obtaining a core mixture;   ii) coating particles of said core mixture with an oily layer, thereby obtaining oil-coated particles;   iii) coating said oil-coated particles with a first polysaccharide layer and with a second polysaccharide layer;   wherein said two polysaccharide layers are different and comprise at least two of cellulose, alginate, chitosan, or a mixture thereof.   
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 10  further comprising: coating the composition with an outermost coating layer. 
     
     
         18 . A probiotic composition comprising granules according to  claim 1 , said composition exhibiting high heat resistance and long storage stability. 
     
     
         19 . A food product or a food additive comprising a probiotic granule according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         20 . A food product according to  claim 19 , selected from the group consisting of pastry, bread, flour, flour products, baked goods, frozen baking products, yogurt, dairy products, chocolate, nectars, fruit juices, and tuna. 
     
     
         21 . A food product according to  claim 20 , exposed to higher than ambient temperature during the production process.