Recently, there is a trend among food manufacturers in producing functional foods containing fruit and milk. On the other hand, there is an increasing demand for buffalo milk as an alternative to cow milk. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the impact of adding bael fruit extract on microbial, physiochemical and sensory characteristics of buffalo yoghurt containing the EPS-producing probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) during 21 days of refrigerated storage. Four formulations of buffalo yoghurt: a control yoghurt manufactured with conventional yoghurt culture (CON); a probiotic yoghurt containing Lb. rhamnosus GG plus yoghurt culture (PY); a probiotic yoghurt containing 5% (w/v) bael (PY5); and 10% (w/v) bael (PY10) were evaluated for changes in pH, syneresis, hardness, probiotic viability and sensory attributes during the storage. Control yoghurt experienced significant post acidification and a higher rate of syneresis. Addition of probiotics had a positive effect on post acidification and syneresis rate. Addition of bael did not affect post-acidification, but significantly decreased the level of syneresis. All probiotic formulations maintained LGG counts of >107 cfu/mL and the highest counts were observed in 5% (w/v) bael incorporated yoghurt. Results showed that buffalo yoghurt is an ideal matrix to deliver LGG and 5% bael incorporation would be ideal or symbiotic product development.
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