• Dr. Ankita Srivastava

The advancement of functional foods is expressly designed to enhance health outcomes or mitigate the likelihood of disease onset. These foods are characterized by the inclusion of specific minerals, vitamins, fatty acids, or dietary fibers; however, their rapid degradation presents a significant challenge in the context of enriched food products. The objective of this research was to examine the impact of a 21-day storage period on the nutritional composition of fortified yogurts. We produced yogurts enriched with carrot, beetroot, and mint, and conducted a microbiological analysis at intervals of 7, 14, and 21 days of storage. The findings indicated that the vegetable-enriched yogurts exhibited a higher prevalence of yeasts and molds compared to standard yogurt across all storage intervals of 7, 14, and 21 days. The current research leads to the inference that yogurts enhanced with natural extracts (mint, carrots, and beetroot) may function as beneficial food products for health enhancement; however, their nutritional composition also fosters microbial proliferation, which gradually leads to the deterioration of the yogurts, thereby indicating potential consumer negligence and subsequent rejection. Enriched or fortified functional foods demonstrate a greater susceptibility to spoilage relative to conventional yogurt.

Functional Foods, nutritional quality, microbiological analysis, long term storage, yoghurt

"Microbiological Analysis of Vegetable Enriched Yoghurt on Long-term Storage ", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 1, page no.b572-b577, January-2026, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2601185.pdf

"Microbiological Analysis of Vegetable Enriched Yoghurt on Long-term Storage ", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 1, page no. ppb572-b577, January-2026, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2601185.pdf