The effect of addition of apple, banana and grape flours (1%) on the characteristics of fermented milk by
culture ABT-4 was evaluated. Supplementation with fruit flour affected only the acidification rate, and
there was no effect on fermentation time. There was a decrease in the pH level and an increase in
titratable acidity throughout storage. The level of probiotics was not affected by milk supplementation
with fruit flours during 28 days of storage. Decreased probiotic survival during in vitro gastrointestinal
simulation was observed in all the treatments. Nonetheless, the supplementation with fruit flours
improved Lactobacillus acidophilus tolerance to simulated gastrointestinal conditions, specifically at days
14 and 28 of storage. On the other hand, only banana flour had a protective effect on Bifidobacterium
animalis subsp. lactis after 28 days of storage. This is the first report that demonstrated a protective effect
of fruit flours on the simulated gastrointestinal resistance of probiotics.