The effect of the application of Bifidobacterium BB-12 microencapsulated by spray drying with prebiotics on
the microbiological, physicochemical, texture, color, and sensory properties of ricotta cream was evaluated.
Reconstituted skim milk (RSM)/inulin and RSM/oligofructose-enriched inulin were used as encapsulating
agents of the bifidobacteria. The viability count for the ricotta cream samples with microencapsulated
bifidobacteria was much greater after 60 days of storage than for those with free cells. During storage of all
the ricotta cream samples, the acidity and total solids content increased, while the pH decreased. The addition
of microcapsules contributed to the increase in the firmness of the samples. The values for adhesiveness
increased during storage of the ricotta cream samples with free bifidobacteria and with bifidobacteria
microencapsulated with RSM and oligofructose-enriched inulin, while the values for elasticity remained stable.
All the samples showed high luminosity and a tendency toward a green and yellow color during the storage
period. The results of the sensory analysis showed that the addition of bifidobacteria in the ricotta cream
samples, whether in the free or in the microencapsulated form, resulted in a good acceptability of the
product.