Use of glucose deficient Streptococcus thermophiles strains in a process for producing fermented milk products

A process for improving growth of a Lactobacillus strain in a process for producing a fermented milk product, comprising inoculating and fermenting a milk substrate with a Lactobacillus strain and a glucose-deficient Streptococcus thermophilus strain, wherein the Streptococcus thermophilus strain improves growth of the Lactobacillus strain as determined by an increased cell count of the Lactobacillus strain when fermented with the glucose-deficient Streptococcus thermophilus strain as compared to fermentation with a glucose-positive Streptococcus thermophilus strain.