Fermentation is one of the oldest and most widely used methods for enhancing the nutritional value of food. From an early point in the development of agriculture and animal husbandry, microbial fermentation has been used to preserve grains, dairy, fish and meat products from bacterial contamination, to extend their shelf life and to enrich their flavour. While the creation of traditional functional foods such as yogurt, cheese, sauerkraut, pickles and fermented grain dishes and beverages (...