In this study, we attempted to increase the survivability of bifidobacteria in simulated gastric juices and bile salts after cell entrapment with alginate and various food additives, such as erythritol, isomalt, palatinose, skim milk, xanthan gum, isomalto-oligosaccharide, fructo-oligosaccharide, galacto-oligosaccharide, pectin, and mono-sodium glutamate. Additionaly, the stability of bifidobacteria during storage was investigated by measuring survival rate at different temperatures, i.e. at 4

, 25

and -20

. Bifidobacteria were immobilized in alginate beads and the survival rate was monitored. It was found that bifidobacieria entrapped with 2.5%, alginate showed the highest survival rate at 12%. After addition of the various protective agents, erythritol(1%) showed the best protective efficiency with a survival rate of 56.0% among the additives tested when exposed to simulated gastric juices for 3 h. Immobilized cells suspended in 5% skim milk and stored at 4

survived significantly more than cells stored at 25

and -20

. Consequently, the study shows that the survival rate of bifidobacteria immobilized in combination with 2.5% alginate beads and 1% erythritol may be signifcantly increased in simulated gastric juices and bile salts.