Bifidobacterium Bb-12 microencapsulated by spray drying with whey: Survival under simulated gastrointestinal conditions, tolerance to NaCl, and viability during storage

► Liquid whey as the encapsulating agent for Bifidobacterium Bb-12 by spray drying. ► Small decrease in the viability of microencapsulated Bifidobacterium at low pH. ► Survival of the Bifidobacterium Bb-12 microcapsules in bile is satisfactory. ► Viability of microcapsules stored at 4 °C remained constant and high for 12 weeks. ► Liquid whey showed to be a promising encapsulating agent for Bifidobacterium Bb-12.