Inulin and oligofructose improve sensory quality and increase the probiotic viable count in potentially synbiotic petit-suisse cheese

The influence of inulin, oligofructose and oligosaccharides from honey, combined in different proportions, on the consumers’ sensory acceptance, probiotic viable count and fructan content of novel potentially synbiotic petit-suisse cheeses was investigated. Probiotic populations varied from 7.20 up to 7.69 log cfu g−1 (Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis) and from 6.08 up to 6.99 log cfu g−1 (Lactobacillus acidophilus). The highest fructan contents were achieved by the cheese trials containing oligofructose and/or inulin (above 8.90 g 100 g−1). The control trial showed the lowest mean acceptance (6.63) after 28 days of refrigerated storage, whereas the highest acceptance (7.43) was observed for the trial containing 10 g 100 g−1 oligofructose. Acceptance increased significantly during storage (P<0.05) only for cheeses supplemented with oligofructose and/or inulin. Cheeses containing honey did not perform well enough compared to the cheeses with addition of inulin and/or oligofructose, and the best synbiotic petit-suisse cheese considering sensory and technological functional features was that containing oligofructose and inulin combined, therefore encouraging the commercial product use.