Viability during refrigerated storage in selected food products and during simulated gastrointestinal conditions of individual and combined lactobacilli encapsulated in alginate or alginate-chitosan

- Incorporating combined lactobacilli in food matrices could improve health benefits.
- Alginate-chitosan (A-G) beads preserved sensory characteristics of milk.
- Blackberry jam set-style yogurt is a good vehicle for incorporating alginate beads.
- A-G beads protected lactobacilli viability in peach nectar.
- A-G beads enhanced lactobacilli viability during simulated GIT conditions.

The viability of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus reuteri combined or individually encapsulated in alginate (AG) or alginate-chitosan (AG-CH), when they were added to milk, peach nectar, or blackberry jam set-style yogurt; and stored at 5 °C for 30 days was evaluated. Survival of studied encapsulated lactobacilli when exposed to simulated gastrointestinal tract (GIT) conditions was also determined. AG-CH encapsulation provided better protection than AG and improved lactobacilli survival during storage in milk, peach nectar, or blackberry jam set-style yogurt; lactobacilli counts were ≥107 CFU/g after 30 days, except for encapsulated combined lactobacilli in peach nectar. Not significant (p < 0.05) changes in pH were observed when lactobacilli encapsulated in AG-CH were added to the evaluated foods. Minimal changes of pH were observed with lactobacilli encapsulated in AG (ΔpH < 0.49). During successive simulated GIT conditions, AG-CH encapsulation prevented lactobacilli loss in simulated gastric juices; meanwhile, favorable releases were observed in simulated intestinal fluids. Sensory evaluation demonstrated that judges did not perceive the presence of capsules in blackberry jam set-style yogurt, but were sensed in milk and peach nectar. Encapsulation of combined lactobacilli was successful and could provide more health benefits than individually encapsulated lactobacilli to consumers. Milk and blackberry jam set-style yogurt promoted microcapsules stability and thus viability of studied lactobacilli.