Basics of Biology

Fermentation

What is the difference between regular and sweet acidophilus milk?

Both acidophilus milk and sweet acidophilus milk are inoculated with the bacterium Lactobacillus acidophilus. Many health practitioners believe that this bacterium, a normal member of the human intestinal flora, aids in digestion. Regular acidophilus milk is produced by adding the bacterium to vats of skim milk as part of the fermentation process; it has a characteristic sour taste. When the bacterium is added to pasteurized milk and packaged without fermentation, sweet acidophilus milk, which lacks the characteristic sour taste, is produced.