Microbial exopolysaccharides (EPS) are considered as natural bio-thickeners abundantly used in dairy and
fermented food industries for quality improvement. In fermentation based dairy industries, researchers are
seeking their attention on substitution of artificial food stabilizers with naturals by exploring EPS, especially for
improving the rheology of fermented food products. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) being a starter player for
fermented food products are believed to be as one of the best natural producers of EPS. These EPS are basically
sugar residues, secreted by microbes in their surrounding environment but their in-vitro production is not
economical due to the media and processing costs involved. The process of production is also complex due to the
involvement of various enzymes and regulatory proteins. With modernization in dairy sector, our understanding
towards EPS needs improvement. The review focuses on a brief explanation on the behavior and functionality of
EPS from lactic acid bacteria.