ABSTRACT

68 69Foods are preserved by fermentation since ancient times. Fermentation helps to enhance the shelf life, value addition, microbiological safety and also increases the digestibility of the foods. Fermented foods are still among the most popular types of foods consumed. A variety of food products can be developed using fermentation process. These products are healthy and suit to the consumer’s demands and their lifestyle. These foods are cheaper, improve heath, and provide a variety of flavors and textures to the consumers. Every civilization has certain traditional foods which are based on fermentation process. In India, every region consumes a considerable amount of fermented food in their daily diet, be it pickles and Idli in South or curds in North.