Patent ID: 8501456

Claim:
A method for making at least 2 kg (dry weight) of a lactic acid bacteria composition containing from 1% to 50% of ascorbate or ascorbic acid (w/w−dry matter) as an antioxidant, wherein the method comprises the following steps: (i) culturing the lactic acid bacteria in a fermentation bioreactor comprising at least 100 L fermentation medium under suitable fermentation conditions, wherein the pH during fermentation is controlled by the addition of a base selected from the group consisting of NaOH, KOH, Na 2 CO3, Na 2 S and Na 2 O so as to be within a range of from pH 3 to pH 8; (ii) harvesting the cultured lactic acid bacteria to obtain a lactic acid bacteria concentrate; (iii) adding ascorbate or ascorbic acid to the lactic acid bacteria concentrate; and (iv) processing the ascorbate-containing or ascorbic acid-containing concentrate of step (iii) in a suitable way so as to obtain said lactic acid bacteria composition containing from 1% to 50% of ascorbate or ascorbic acid (w/w−dry matter) therein, whereby the lactic acid bacteria composition develops a red/pink color at a reduced rate in comparison to a lactic acid bacteria composition in which fermentation occurs in the presence of a base comprising ammonia under the same storage condition during a storage period of 3 weeks or longer.