Patent ID: 8349313

Claim:
A dairy composition having an aqueous continuous phase comprising: a dairy component; a microbial growth-inhibiting component selected from the group consisting of sorbic acid and salts thereof; and a probiotic culture component comprising probiotic cultures dispersed in the dairy component, wherein the dairy composition has a pH of 5.0 to about 6.2, and the microbial growth-inhibiting component is present in an amount of about 0.03% to about 0.1% by weight of the dairy composition and the amount that is effective to (1) inhibit undesirable microbial growth and to permit the probiotic cultures of the probiotic culture component to remain substantially viable, (2) maintain a total count of background flora in the dairy composition to within 3 log units over three days at 86° F., and (3) inhibit the production of toxin in the dairy composition for at least 24 hours at a temperature of about 86° F. when inoculated with C. botulinum.