Shaping the Physicochemical, Functional, Microbiological and Sensory Properties of Yoghurts Using Plant Additives

Nowadays, consumers pay particular attention to the quality of the products they buy. They also expect a high level of innovation. Hence, the offer from the dairy sector is increasingly focusing on the use of various additives with proven health benefits. Many scientific teams from various regions of the world are engaged in research, and their aim is to identify plant additives that have beneficial effects on the human body. The aim of this article was to summarize the latest literature pertaining to the effects of plant additives used in the production of yoghurts on their physicochemical, functional, microbiological and sensory properties. It was found that a wide range of additives in a variety of forms are used in the production of yoghurts. The most common include fruits, vegetables, cereals, nuts, seeds, oils, plant or herbal extracts, fruit or vegetable fibre, and waste from fruit processing. The additives very often significantly affected the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics as well as the texture and sensory properties of yoghurt. As follows from the analysed reports, yoghurts enriched with additives are more valuable, especially in terms of the content of health-promoting compounds, including fibre, phenolic compounds, vitamins, fatty acids and minerals. A properly selected, high quality plant supplement can contribute to the improvement in the generally health-promoting as well as antioxidant properties of the product. For sensory reasons, however, a new product may not always be tolerated, and its acceptance depends mainly on the amount of the additive used. In conclusion, "superfood" yoghurt is one of the products increasingly recommended both preventively and as a way of reducing existing dysfunctions caused by civilization diseases, i.e., diabetes, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. The studies conducted in recent years have not shown any negative impact of fortified yoghurts on the human body.