Coated Dehydrated Microorganisms with Enhanced Stability and Viability

The coated dehydrated microorganism according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the hygroscopic salt(s) is(are) a hygroscopic salt per se or becomes a hygroscopic salt after being applied onto the dehydrated microorganism.

The coated dehydrated microorganism according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the hygroscopic salt(s) has/have a MUR of at least 20% w/w at 25° C. at 75% RH after 7 days, preferably a MUR of at least 30% w/w, more preferably of at least 40% w/w, more preferably of at least 50% w/w and even more preferably of at least 60% w/w at 25° C. at 75% RH after 7 days.

The coated dehydrated microorganism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coating also comprises by dry weight from 0 to 60% of a non hygroscopic salt or mixture thereof, preferably from 5% to 60%, preferably from 10% to 60%, preferably from 15% to 50%, and more preferably from 20 to 35% of a non hygroscopic salt or mixture thereof.

The coated dehydrated microorganism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coating also comprises by dry weight from 0 to 70% of optional other ingredient(s), more preferably from 10% to 60%, even more preferably from 17 to 40%.

The coated dehydrated microorganism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pH of the coating is the pH of said coated dehydrated microorganism when resuspended in water in an amount of 10 wt %, and it is from 5.5 to 7.9, preferably from 6 to 7.5.

The coated dehydrated microorganism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coating comprises at least a hygroscopic salt that can be selected from the group comprising or consisting of dipotassium phosphate (K2HPO4), disodium hydrogen phosphate anhydrous (Na2HPO4), sodium hexametaphosphate (NaPO3)6, sodium acetate anhydrous (CH3COONa), magnesium nitrate (Mg(NO3)2), calcium bromide (CaBr), lithium bromide (LiBr), calcium chloride (CaCl2), magnesium chloride (MgCl2), lithium chloride (LiCl), phosphorus pentoxide (P4O10), disodium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate (Na2HPO4-2H2O), disodium hydrogen phosphate heptahydrate (Na2HPO4.7H2O), ammonium acetate (CH3COONH3), calcium acetate (CH3COO)2Ca, potassium acetate (CH3COOK), potassium carbonate (K2CO3), sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), sodium formate (NaCHO2), potassium citrate monohydrate (K3C6H5O7.H2O), Sodium citrate pentahydrate (C6H5Na3O7.5H2O) and mixtures thereof.

The coated dehydrated microorganism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coating comprises dipotassium phosphate K2HPO4 as hygroscopic salt or comprises a mixture of hygroscopic salts including dipotassium phosphate K2HPO4.

The coated dehydrated microorganism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-hygroscopic salt can be selected from the group comprising or consisting of monopotassium phosphate (KH2PO4), sodium acetate tri hydrate (CH3COONa.3H2O), calcium sulphate dihydrate (CaSO3.2H2O), sodium sulphate (Na2SO4), magnesium sulphate (MgSO4), potassium sulphate (K2SO4), sodium chloride (NaCl), potassium chloride (KCl), calcium carbonate (CaCO3), calcium lactate ((CH3CHOHCOO)2Ca), calcium citrate tetrahydrate ((Ca3C6H5O7)2.4H2O), sodium citrate dihydrate (HOC(COONa)(CH2COONa)2.2H2O), and mixtures thereof.

The coated dehydrated microorganism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the other optional ingredient can be selected from the group of polyhydroxy compounds, anti-sticking agents, compounds having health and/or nutritional benefits (anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, prebiotics, peptides, proteins), hydrocolloids, fillers, lubricants, binders, acids, alkali, hydrophobic species, polymers, and mixtures thereof.

The coated dehydrated microorganism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coating consists of K2HPO4 (83 wt % dry) and talc (17 wt % dry) or consists of K2HPO4 (30 wt % dry), sodium acetate trihydrate (30 wt % dry), sucrose (17 wt % dry) and talc (14 wt % dry).

The coated dehydrated microorganism according to any one of the preceding claims, which contains at least one outercoating, preferably made with conventional compounds such as fats, fatty acids, emulsifiers, oils, waxes, resins, low permeability polymers, hydrocolloids, starches, cyclodextrines, polyols, cellulose, cellulose derivatives and mixtures thereof.

The coated dehydrated microorganism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the salt(s) in the coating has/have a salt crystallinity degree of up to 60% once applied onto the dehydrated microorganism, preferably up to 50%, more preferably up to 40% and even more preferably up to 30%.

The coated dehydrated microorganism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coating has a Moisture Uptake Rate of at least 15%, preferably at least 20%, preferably at least 30%, at 25° C. and at 75% relative humidity (RH) after 7 days.

The coated dehydrated microorganism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coated dehydrated microorganism has a Moisture Uptake Rate of at least 8%, at 25° C. and at 75% relative humidity (RH) after 7 days.

The coated dehydrated microorganism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coating is in a quantity of at least 10%, preferably at least 20%, more preferably at least 30%, more preferably at least 50% and even more preferably at least 70%, even more preferably at least 80%, even more preferably at least 90% by weight of the coated dehydrated microorganism.

The coated dehydrated microorganism according to any one of the preceding claims, which has a stability of minimum 40% survival, preferably at least 50% survival, preferably at least 60% survival, preferably at least 70% survival, preferably at least 80% survival and more preferably 90% survival upon storage from 15° C. to 40° C. for up to 2 years when stored in sealed conditions.

The coated dehydrated microorganism according to any one of the preceding claims, which is capable to have a viability loss of <1.5 LOG, most preferably of <1.0 LOG, most preferably of <0.5 LOG, most preferably of <0.2 LOG, and most preferably of <0.1 LOG upon 12 months storage at temperature from 15° C. to 40° C., in a feed product, a food product, a consumer healthcare product or an agri-product having an aw greater than 0.10.

The coated dehydrated microorganism according to any one of the preceding claims, which is capable to have viability loss of <3 LOG, most preferably of <1.5 LOG, most preferably of <1.0 LOG, most preferably of <0.5 LOG, and most preferably of <0.2 LOG upon 2 years storage at temperature from 15° C. to 40° C., in a feed product, a food product, a consumer healthcare product or an agri-product having an aw greater than 0.10.

The coated dehydrated microorganism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the microorganism are probiotics or direct fed microbials (DFMs).

Liquid coating composition for coating a dehydrated microorganism characterized in that it comprises at least 25% of a hygroscopic salt or mixture thereof by dry weight of dry solids within the composition, and wherein the pH of from 5.5 to 7.9, preferably from 6 to 7.5.

A method for coating a dehydrated microorganism, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) preparing a liquid coating composition,
• (b) coating a dehydrated microorganism with the liquid coating composition obtained after step (a), preferably by spray-coating, in order to obtain a coated dehydrated microorganism as claimed in any of preceding claims.

A method for protecting a dehydrated microorganism, said method comprising preparing a coated dehydrated microorganism by surrounded the dehydrated microorganism with at least one coating comprising by dry weight at least 25% of a hygroscopic salt or mixture of hygroscopic salts and wherein the pH of the coating is compatible with the viability of the coated dehydrated microorganism.