Despite these scientific opinions, there is still a need for products containing predominantly
L-(+)-lactic acid, and therefore such products are offered by the industry.
The investigation of facultatively heterofermentative lactobacilli in sauerkraut fermentation
has led to the isolation of strains characterized by the exclusive formation
of L-(+)-lactic acid. Originally, such strains were designated as a new species named
Lactobacillus bavaricus.43 However, this “species” was renamed Lb. sakei after a
high DNA similarity of these strains was found with Lb. sakei.44 The so-called L-(+)
sauerkraut, which is distributed in health food stores, is produced by the application