Optimisation of probiotic yoghurt production containing Zedo gum

A Box-Behnken design was applied to optimise the viability of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum in probiotic yoghurt containing a novel exudative Zedo gum. The effect of incubation temperature, probiotic inoculation rate, storage time and Zedo gum concentration on quality indices of the yoghurt were explored. With respect to probiotics viability, probiotic inoculation rate was the most important factor followed by the storage time. Zedo gum did not show any significant effect on probiotics viability. The optimum conditions of probiotic yoghurt production were as follows: probiotic inoculation level, 12.8 g/100 kg of milk; incubation temperature, 41.6 degrees C; and Zedo gum concentration, 0.13%.