Effect of Inulin DP on Various Properties of Sugar-Free Dark Chocolates Containing Lactobacillus paracasei and Lactobacillus acidophilus

Abstract

In the present study, the effect of different polymerization degree of inulin on the quality parameters of conventional and sugar-free dark chocolate products as well as on the vitality of probiotics used in the chocolates were investigated. To produce sugar-free dark chocolates prepared with the addition of maltitol, Lactobacillus paracasei / L. acidophilus and inulin with DP higher than 23 and lower than 10 were used as probiotic and prebiotic agents, respectively. After 90 day of storage, more than 6 log cfu/25 g probiotics were observed in the chocolates produced by supplementing of 9 log cfu/25 g probiotics. Considering the probiotic level for both conventional and sugar-free dark chocolate, the highest probiotic level was observed in the samples prepared from L. acidophilus and inulin with DP