Packaged emulsified food compositions (e.g., salad dressings including anoil/wateremulsion) including a probiotic, which may be included therein, withoutrequiring heating duringpackaging, and without requiring refrigeration for long term shelf stability.The probiotic maybe sporeforming. In an embodiment the probiotic comprises spores which do notgerminate untilingested by a consumer (e.g., such that the spores germinate in the intestinaltract of theconsumer). The probiotic may comprise Bacillus coagulans spores, which may beadded to theemulsion following addition of an acid. The salad dressing or other foodcompositionadvantageously can be cold packed, requiring no heating during manufacture,and norefrigeration after packaging, all while providing stability of 1 year ormore.
