Dry food product containing live probiotic

A probiotic substance comprising particles, each of which comprises viable probiotic bacteria embedded in a dried matrix, wherein the dried matrix is a mixture comprising:

• at least one sugar, wherein the at least one sugar comprises trehalose, wherein the total amount of sugar in the dried matrix is from about 20% to about 60% by weight of the dried matrix;
• at least one protein, wherein the total amount of protein in the dried matrix is from about 2% to about 20% by weight of the dried matrix and wherein the at least one protein comprises egg white, soy protein isolate, soy protein hydrolysate or a combination thereof;
• at least one polysaccharide, wherein the at least one polysaccharide comprises an alginate;
• and
• optionally additional functional ingredients;
• wherein the total amount of polysaccharide in the dried matrix is from about 0.5% to about 5% by weight of the dried matrix;
• wherein the probiotic substance is prepared by a process comprising:
• a) mixing the probiotic bacteria with the at least one sugar, the at least one protein, the at least one polysaccharide and optionally the additional functional ingredients to obtain a slurry, and optionally adding a crosslinking chemical to form a gel in a desired shape and form;
• and
• b) vacuum drying the slurry or the gel, wherein the vacuum drying comprises setting the temperature of the probiotic substance above its freezing temperature and vacuum drying at reduced pressure at a shelf temperature of from 5-50° C. and then gradually decreasing the pressure, as the temperature of the probiotic substance increases, down to a pressure of about 100 mTorr while maintaining the shelf temperature from 5-50° C.