Patent ID: 8168170

Claim:
A composition comprising: (a) an inner core comprising one or more components, including bacteria, wherein at least one or more components has a water activity of about 0.3 or less as measured at a temperature of from about 20° C. to about 25° C.; (b) a capsule layer which is joined to the inner core; (c) an inner layer which is joined to the inner core, wherein the inner layer is selected from the group consisting of continuous coatings which are insoluble at a pH of about 3 or less, continuous coatings having a coating weight of from about 3 mg/cm 2 to about 25 mg/cm 2 , and combinations thereof; and wherein the inner layer is an anionic copolymer selected from the group consisting of methacrylic acid, methacrylate, acrylic acid, acrylate and combinations thereof; and (d) an outer layer which is joined to the inner core, wherein the outer layer is a continuous hydrophobic coating comprising a material selected from the group consisting of fatty acids, fatty acid derivatives, polymers, and mixtures thereof; and which exhibits a water vapor transmission rate of less than about 200 mg/m 2 /24 hours; wherein the inner layer is a preceding layer relative to the outer layer.