Probiotic frozen yoghurt is one of the ideal probiotic dairy products for delivery of live probiotic micro-organisms to human diet and thus to human intestinal tract. Probiotic micro-organisms have beneficial effects on human health. These benefits include improvements to the intestinal microflora, anti tumoral activity, reduction of cholesterol in the blood, increased immune response and other health benefits. In this study five probiotic frozen yoghurt mixtures were prepared, Acontrol (mainly from fresh skim milk and skim milk powder), B (mainly from whey/broken chickpea extract and milled chickpea grains), AB25 (75% A + 25% B), AB50 (50% A + 50% B) and AB75 (25% A + 75% B). The resultant frozen yoghurts were sensory evaluated. Panelists arranged their preference as Acontrol> AB25> AB50> AB75> B. Physically, the melting resistance of frozen yoghurt increased with the increase of chickpea ingredients. Nutritionally, chickpea frozen yoghurt contained nutrients not found in Acontrol such as dietary fibers, iron, branched chain amino acids, zinc and vitamins B3, B9 and E. Microbiologically, the viable counts of ABT culture strains (Lactobacillus acidophilus + Bifidobacterium bifidum + Streptococcus thermophilus) in all frozen yoghurt samples remained within the limits recommended for the probiotic products. Microbiologically, large numbers (> 107 cfu/g) of probiotic microorganisms present in all stored samples indicated that the resulting frozen yogurt could represent a good source of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum and commercially, this product was included in probiotic dairy products.
Assessment of socio-demographic factors, health status and the knowledge on probiotic dairy products
