Spray-drying for the production of dried cultures

This review emphasises the importance of spray-drying as an under-used but promising technique to preserve viable and active starter cultures and also, potentially, probiotic cultures. The knowledge concerning the production of spray-dried starter cultures is discussed. Different drying techniques and micro-organisms have been investigated for their survival through the drying process. During drying and subsequent storage in the dried state, bacteria are subjected to several stresses, which have already been described as causing damage to cells, leading to the loss of cellular viability and activity. Some studies found that several factors/strategies can confer improved cellular viability.