Growth of Lactic Acid Bacteria in Soy Milk and Flavor of Soy Yogurt

Soy milk prepared from soy protein concentrate was fermented with Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. bulgaricus, L. casci, Streptococcus lactis or S. cremoris. Growth and acid production of each organism in soy milk and flavor of soy yogurt beverages were investigated. Volatile compounds in soy milk and soy yogurts were also determined. Among the five organisms tested, L. bulgaricus produced most amount of acid in soy milk while S. cremoris produced least amount of acid in soy mile. Sensory evaluation showed that the flavor of soy yogurt beverages was inferior to that of milk yogurt beverage and the flavor of soy yogurt beverage prepared by L. bulgaricus was better than that of other soy yogurt beverages. Soy milk fermented with L. bulgaricus was more acceptable than unfermented soy milk. Lactic fermentation reduced n-hexanal in soy milk while it produced diacetyl that was not detected in unfermented soy milk.