Patent ID: 8871266

Claim:
An encapsulated probiotic in which one or more probiotic microorganisms are encapsulated in a protective encapsulant matrix to prolong the storage life of the probiotic, wherein the encapsulant matrix is formed by the combination of a film-firming protein and a carbohydrate in which the encapsulation in the matrix is achieved by a) mixing a water-dispersible probiotic microorganism in an aqueous suspension of the film-forming protein and the carbohydrate, b) mixing an oil-dispersible probiotic microorganism in an oil-in-water emulsion of the film-forming protein, the carbohydrate, and a fat, or c) mixing the probiotic microorganism in an oil that subsequently is dispersed in an aqueous dispersion of the film-forming protein and the carbohydrate.