METHOD FOR PRODUCING FERMENTED MILK

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently produce fermented milk having high content of EPS.SOLUTION: A method for producing fermented milk includes a process of producing a bulk starter and a process of adding the bulk starter to raw milk and fermenting it. The process of producing the bulk starter includes a starter adding step of adding a lactic acid bacteria starter to a medium containing a milk component, a culturing step of adjusting the temperature of the medium to a culture temperature range and culturing the lactic acid bacteria starter in the medium, a cooling step of cooling the medium to a holding temperature range of 20°C or higher and 30°C or lower, lower than the culture temperature range after completing the culture of the lactic acid bacteria starter, a temperature holding step of holding the medium in the holding temperature range for 1 hour or longer, and a re-cooling step of cooling the medium to 10°C or lower after completing the temperature holding step.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1 【課題】ＥＰＳ含有量の高い発酵乳を効率的に製造する。【解決手段】バルクスターターを製造する工程と，バルクスターターを原料乳に添加して発酵させる工程を含む発酵乳の製造方法であって，バルクスターターを製造する工程は，乳成分を含む培地に乳酸菌スターターを添加するスターター添加工程と，培地の温度を培養温度域に調温し培地内で乳酸菌スターターを培養する培養工程と，乳酸菌スターターの培養終了後に培地を培養温度域よりも低い２０℃以上３０℃以下の保持温度域まで冷却する冷却工程と，培地を保持温度域で１時間以上保持する温度保持工程と，温度保持工程の終了後に培地を１０℃以下まで冷却する再冷却工程と，を含む。【選択図】図１