Haryana :- An industrial visit to Yakult-Danone India Pvt. Ltd. Sonipat was organized on December 14, 2023, for students of Microbiology of the Central University of Haryana (CUH), Mahendergarh. A total of 27 M.Sc. students  and Ph.D scholars under the guidance of faculty coordinators Dr. Jitendra Saini and Dr. Puja Yadav visited the plant site. The purpose of the visit was to acclimatize students to the manufacturing process as well as fermentation technology and other practices involved in its operation. Prof. Tankeshwar Kumar, Vice Chancellor of the University, while appreciating the department for organizing educational tours, said that such educational tours are helpful in enhancing the practical knowledge of the subject to the students.

The session started with a presentation that covered the history and evolution of probiotics. Students were introduced to Lactobacillus species known as Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota used for production purposes. The presentation concluded with an engaging Q&A session. Later on, students were taken to the processing unit, which covered the entire manufacturing process of Yakult. In the processing unit, all stages, from the mixing of raw ingredients to the final packing, were briefed. First, students visited the seed room, where the milk solution was prepared, followed by the culture and mixing room, where an active culture of Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota was used to ferment the milk. More importantly, the quality control unit assures the quality of the drink, and various microbiological methods are used during this process. Interestingly, students were amazed to see the automated systems with minimal human intervention. On a whole, it was a learning experience for students as they gained an understanding of how an industry operates. Overall, this visit helped students understand the fermentation process as well as gain insight into the Yakult production process. Such a visit may encourage students to set up their own small businesses or production units by using their experience in the microbiology field. Professor Surender (HOD Microbiology) thanked the university administration, especially Vice chancellor Prof. Tankeshwar approval of the tour.

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