The present invention relates to folic acid-producing bacterial strains belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium, pharmaceutical, veterinary or food formulations containing them and the use thereof. In particular, the invention relates to new bacterial strains of human origin belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium, adolescentis species (2), the genus Bifidobacterium, breve species (1) and the genus Bifidobacterium, pseudocatenulatum species (2) deposited in the DSMZ collection center (Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH; Braunsweig, Germany), in accordance with the Treaty of Budapest, on 21 Jul. 2004.