Background: There is a genuine interest in the development of probiotic milk and juice based beverages because they are a good-vehicle to deliver probiotic microorganisms to consumers. For this purpose, the viability and metabolism of four probiotic strains (
Lactobacillus acidophilus
LA5,
Bifidobacterium lactis
BB12,
L. rhamnosus
and
L. plantarum
) were studied in non-fermented milk and carrot juice mix drink. The drinks were evaluated in 5 days interval for viable cell count, pH, acidity, sedimentation and sensory quality during refrigerated storage at 4 ± 2ºC for up to 20 days.
Results: The results showed that all strains had good viability in milk/carrot juice drink (88-98%), but
L. acidophilus LA5 seemed more stable than three other strains. The levels of pH and acidity were ranged 5.33-6.6 and 0.13-0.31%, respectively. The drinks inoculated with
L. rhamnosus and control (non-probiotic) showed more variation in pH and acidity. The most sedimentation was detected in drinks inoculated with
L. rhamnosus, reaching 3.73 mL/10 mL sample. Sensory assessment indicated lowest acceptability in control and milk/carrot juice drink inoculated with
L. rhamnosus, respectively.
Conclusion: This study indicated that some probiotic bacteria can be applied by food producers to produce functional drinks with an increased shelf-life.
