More specifically, a lower viability percentage was determined in the case of the breads coated with
sodium alginate compared to those containing WPC (ANOVA mean values were 15.9% and 76.3% respectively). It is well established that convective drying of probiotics induces a significant loss in viability due to changes in their cellular structure i.e. phase transitions of the lipid bilayer of the membranes can lead to membrane rupture and leakage of cytoplasmic material (Fu & Chen, 2011).