Patent ID: 8367128

Claim:
A method of making a fermented milk product, comprising the steps of: seeding a composition comprising milk with one or more strains of lactic acid bacteria, wherein before seeding: the composition is optionally provided with additional fat, protein or flavoring; the composition is optionally homogenized; the composition is optionally pasteurized; allowing the seeded composition to ferment; packaging the seeded composition or fermented composition; controlling a redox potential of a first medium to a desired first setpoint through addition of a process gas to the medium, the first medium being selected from the group consisting of: the unseeded composition before or after the optional addition of fat, protein, or flavoring; the unseeded composition before or after the optional homogenization; the unseeded composition before or after the optional pasteurization; the unseeded composition before seeding; the seeded composition before packaging; and the fermented composition before packaging; and discontinuing said process gas addition to the first medium when said desired first setpoint is reached, wherein: the desired first setpoint is higher or lower than a redox potential of the first medium before said process gas addition; and the process gas comprises a neutral gas and either an oxidizing gas or a reducing gas, the neutral gas selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, argon, helium, carbon dioxide, and mixtures thereof, the oxidizing gas being selected from the group consisting of oxygen, air, and mixtures thereof, the reducing gas being hydrogen.