The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued patent US12584099B2 for a method of preparing lactic acid bacteria (LAB) starter cultures. The patent, assigned to Chr. Hansen A/S, describes a process that involves inoculating a culture medium with both a lactic acid bacteria strain and an inactivated yeast strain. This grant represents a new intellectual property asset in the field of microbial starter cultures.

While this is a patent grant and not a regulatory rule, it signifies a new innovation that may impact the development and commercialization of LAB-based products. Companies operating in the food and beverage or biotechnology sectors, particularly those involved in fermentation or probiotic development, should be aware of this patented technology. No immediate compliance actions are required, but it may influence future product development strategies and licensing considerations.