A rapid method of screening lactic acid bacterial strains for conjugated linoleic acid production.

A more rapid and simpler method than those currently used was developed to screen conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)-producing bacteria isolated from cow milk. The screening of 500 strains was completed in 10 d and the screening efficiency was 10%. One strain resembling a Lactobacillus paracasei strain and two resembling L. helveticus strains converted free linoleic acid to total CLA ≥85%.