A B S T R A C T
Probiotic foods are reported to provide several health benefits, as they help in maintaining
a good balance and composition of intestinal flora, and increase the resistance against invasion
of pathogens. The demand of probiotic functional foods is growing rapidly due to
increased awareness of consumers about the impact of food on health. Development of foods
with adequate doses of probiotics at the time of consumption is a challenge, because several
factors during processing and storage affect the viability of probiotic organisms. The presence
of probiotics in food products may also adversely affect their quality and sensory properties.
Several attempts have been made during the last few decades to improve the viability
of probiotics in different food products during their production until the time of consumption.
Major emphasis has been given to protect the microorganisms with the help of encapsulation
technique, by addition of different protectants, and by alteration of processing
and storage conditions. This contribution provides an overview of probiotic foods, factors
responsible for survival of probiotics, and advance technologies used to stabilize their viability
during processing and storage.