The present invention comprises the discovery and development of an effective
cryoprotectant composition, without containing skim milk or any other animal-derived compounds, to achieve long-term stability of freeze-dried
lactic acid bacteria (LAB), at different temperatures, whereby the retention of viability of the freeze-dried LAB after 6 months of storage, preferably after 9 months of storage, more preferably after 12 months of storage is more than 50%. The invention is in the field of producing freeze dried
bacteria, in particular
Lactic acid bacteria. More in particular, the invention relates to the use of a novel combination of cryoprotectants for increasing the viability of bacteria after
freeze drying, improving the texture of the lyofilized cake for easy
grinding and improving the long term stability of the freeze dried bacteria at different temperature conditions. The invention further relates to such freeze dried bacteria for use in
food industry or in human or
animal health applications. More in particular, the invention relates to the increased viability and long-term storage of recombinant bacteria capable of expressing
heterologous proteins or peptides and administered to humans or animals for therapeutic or
vaccination purposes.