Introduction
The increasing evidence of potential health benefits of probiotics over a wide range of clinical conditions is driving the market for probiotics (Parvez, Malik, Ah Kang, & Kim, 2006). Consumer demand for a much wider range of functional foods containing probiotics continues to increase. The development of shelf stable probiotic ingredients presents a significant challenge to the food and supplement industries wanting to meet the market for probiotic-containing functional foods and supplements that are stable under non-refrigerated storage conditions.