LACTIC ACID BACTERIA SELECTIVE AGAR BASE

Lactic Acid Bacteria Selective Agar Base is based on the formula of Saha, Sondag and Middlekauff for the detection of lactic acid bacteria in beer and brewing processes. It is recommended by European Brewing convention (EBC) and the American Society of Brewing Chemists for isolation of Lactobacilli. The family Lactobacillaceae has members that are important spoilage organisms in the brewing process. The original medium viz. Raka-Ray Medium was developed to enable brewers to monitor in-process beer quickly and accurately for a wide range of organisms including pediococci. Further studies towards optimization of conditions of growth factors led to the modification of Raka Ray medium with the addition of sorbitan mono-oleate to stimulate growth of lactic acid bacteria and incorporation of sugars such as fructose as an essential carbohydrate source for Lactobacillus fructivorans and maltose for lactobacilli as it lacks the ability to metabolize glucose.