Question

The inoculum is added to fresh milk in order to convert milk into curd. The inoculum here refers to:

• A. A starter containing millions of LAB
• B. A starter rich in proteins
• C. A starter rich in vitamin B12
• D. A starter rich in carbohydrate

Answer 1

The correct option is A A starter containing millions of LAB

Microbes have been used to make several milk products such as curd, butter, vinegar, etc. Fermentation is the process of reduction of organic substrate by anaerobic methods. Microbes such as Lactobacillus commonly called lactic acid bacteria (LAB) convert the fresh milk into curd. During the growth, bacteria produce acids (mainly lactic acid) which coagulate and partially digest the milk protein. So to make curd, a small amount of previously made curd is added in the fresh milk as a starter, which contains millions of lactic acid bacteria (LAB). The bacteria keeps on multiplying and the pH of the milk lowers as the lactic acid content increases and resultantly the milk coagulates into curd, improving its nutritional quality by increasing vitamin B12.