Leuconostoc mesenteroides

Leuconostoc mesenteroides suppliers and sourcing guide

Leuconostoc mesenteroides is a heterofermentative lactic acid bacterium that starts the fermentation of sauerkraut, kimchi and other vegetables and makes dextran from sucrose. L. mesenteroides subsp. cremoris is part of mesophilic aroma cultures for butter, buttermilk and some cheeses. Strains are grown by fermentation and sold frozen or freeze-dried as starter cultures or, less often, as probiotic powders at a stated CFU per gram. Selected strains are also used industrially to make dextran.

See suppliers What to ask for on the COA

Category: Probiotics, cultures and yeasts
Also known as: L. mesenteroides · Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. cremoris · Leuconostoc dextranicum
Facts checked: November 2026

Forms and grades of leuconostoc mesenteroides

Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.

Vegetable fermentation starter
Freeze-dried cultures for sauerkraut, kimchi and pickles, used alone or with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum to control the early stage of fermentation.
Dairy aroma culture
Subsp. cremoris in mixed mesophilic cultures with lactococci, dosed in units per volume of milk.
Freeze-dried probiotic powder
A named strain at a stated CFU per gram for supplements and fortified foods.
Named strain
A strain with its deposit number and documentation; the strain designation belongs on the specification.

What to check on the COA

Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.

Viable count (CFU/g): Plate count on MRS agar with vancomycin, which most other lactic acid bacteria do not tolerate, reported as CFU per gram against a minimum; some suppliers also report flow cytometry counts (ISO 19344). The count, not the weight, sets how much goes into each batch.
Identity: Species confirmed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing or a species-specific PCR, and the strain confirmed against the deposited strain by a strain-level method such as whole-genome sequencing.
Water activity: Water activity of the powder measured with a water activity meter against a low maximum, since viable counts fall faster in moister powder.
Contaminant microbiology: Enterobacteriaceae or coliforms, E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, yeast and mold, plus absence of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes in a stated sample size.
Heavy metals: Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury by ICP-MS, mostly a reflection of the carrier and cryoprotectants in the powder.
Allergen statement: Declaration of milk, soy or other allergens used in the growth medium or carrier, which buyers need for their own label review.

Storage, lots and expiry

Storage and shelf life

Frozen direct-to-vat pellets are kept deep-frozen at the temperature the supplier specifies (often -45 °C or colder), and freeze-dried sachets frozen or refrigerated, in sealed foil packs. Take out only what goes into the batch and do not refreeze thawed pellets or reseal partly used sachets for long. Shelf life is set by the supplier from activity and count data at the stated storage temperature.

Lots and expiry dates

Record the units or CFU, the activity test result and the culture's code for each lot, and keep the culture lot traceable to finished batches. Culture houses group strains into rotation sets to manage bacteriophage, so follow the supplier's rotation scheme and rotate stock FEFO.

Regulatory status

Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.

Health Canada's Probiotics monograph for natural health products lists Leuconostoc mesenteroides as a medicinal ingredient, and the licence application and label must give the strain designation.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)
The EU Novel Food Catalogue entry for Leuconostoc mesenteroides (POL-NF-09452) gives it the status not novel in food, as bacteria used as characteristic ingredients in fermented foods.
Source: ec.europa.eu (opens in a new tab)
21 CFR 186.1275, on dextrans, states that commercially available dextrans are synthesized from sucrose by Leuconostoc mesenteroides strain NRRL B-512(F).
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)

This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.

Leuconostoc mesenteroides suppliers

Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.

We are checking leuconostoc mesenteroides suppliers now

Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.

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Frequently asked questions

What forms of leuconostoc mesenteroides can brands buy?

Common forms include vegetable fermentation starter, dairy aroma culture, freeze-dried probiotic powder and named strain. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.

What should the COA for leuconostoc mesenteroides include?

Expect viable count (CFU/g), identity, water activity, contaminant microbiology, heavy metals and allergen statement, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.

How should leuconostoc mesenteroides be stored?

What is the regulatory status of leuconostoc mesenteroides?

Health Canada's Probiotics monograph for natural health products lists Leuconostoc mesenteroides as a medicinal ingredient, and the licence application and label must give the strain designation. The EU Novel Food Catalogue entry for Leuconostoc mesenteroides (POL-NF-09452) gives it the status not novel in food, as bacteria used as characteristic ingredients in fermented foods. 21 CFR 186.1275, on dextrans, states that commercially available dextrans are synthesized from sucrose by Leuconostoc mesenteroides strain NRRL B-512(F).

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