Microcapsules containing Bifidobacterium lactis (BI 01) and Lactobacillus acidophilus (LAC 4) were produced by complex coacervation using a casein/pectin complex as the wall material, followed by spray drying. The aim of this study was to evaluate the resistance of these microorganisms when submitted to the spray drying process, a shelf-life of 120 days at 7-37 degrees C and the in vitro tolerance after being submitted to acid pH (pH 1.0 and 3.0) solutions besides morphology of microcapsules. Microencapsulated microorganisms were shown to be more resistant to acid conditions than free ones. Microencapsulated L. acidophilus maintained its viability for a longer storage period at both temperatures. The microcapsules presented a spherical shape with no fissures. The process used and the wall material were efficient in protecting the microorganisms under study against the spray drying process and simulated gastric juice; however, microencapsulated B. lactis lost its viability before the end of the storage time.

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-The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of somatic cell counts (SCC) in casein fractions of ultra high temperature (UHT) milk. Raw milks were categorized in SCC groups of low (200,000-320,000 cells mL ) and high cells (600,000-800,000 cells mL -1). Five replicates of UHT milks within each SCC category were analyzed for casein fractions after 8, 30, 60, 90 and 120 days of storage through high performance liquid chromatography. SCC showed effect only on beta-casein reduction. SCC in raw milk increases the proteolysis of UHT milk, as a consequence of beta-casein degradation.

In this work, lipolysis, proteolysis and viscosity of ultra‐high temperature (UHT) milk containing different somatic cell counts (SCC) were investigated. UHT milks were analysed on days 8, 30, 60, 90 and 120 of storage. Lipolysis as measured by free fatty acids increase, casein degradation and viscosity of UHT milk were not affected by SCC but increased during storage. A negative relationship was observed between SCC and casein as a percentage of true protein on the 120th day of storage, hence indicating that high SCC increases the proteolysis of UHT milk by the end of its shelf life.