Plant Based Probiotic Functional Foods – History, Research and Market

Foods fermented by probiotic lactic acid bacteria are beneficial to the gut and have the potential to be therapeutic. Although the demand for vegan probiotic food is growing, most probiotic products in the market are dairy-based. Fermentation of plant foods has been practiced since time immemorial, yet probiotic plant foods are scarce in the market. This chapter shows a glimpse of history through fermented foods of the past to recent research in the field of functional plant-based probiotic foods. The challenges to overcome in processing plant probiotic food are highlighted while also providing a futuristic view for its popularization and enhancements in research.