Postbiotics in Dairy: A Comprehensive Review of Applications and Health Impacts

Purpose of Review: This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of postbiotics—defined as non-viable microbial cells, cell components, and microbial metabolites—and their emerging role in dairy products. It focuses on their functional, technological, and health-promoting properties in various dairy matrices, including yoghurt, cheese, kefir, fermented milk, and ice cream. Additionally, the review highlights the potential of postbiotics as stable and safe alternatives to probiotics in the development of functional dairy foods. Recent Findings: Recent evidence demonstrates that postbiotics such as exopolysaccharides (EPS), bacteriocins, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), bioactive peptides, and organic acids significantly enhance both the nutritional value and technological quality of dairy products. These compounds have been shown to improve texture, sensory attributes, shelf life, and microbial safety while exerting biological activities, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and gut health–promoting effects. Compared with probiotics, postbiotics offer greater stability during processing and storage as well as reduced safety concerns, particularly for vulnerable populations. Summary: Postbiotics represent a promising strategy for advancing functional and sustainable dairy products by combining health benefits with technological improvements. Their applications in functional food formulation, biopreservation, and bioactive compound delivery are rapidly expanding. However, challenges remain regarding standardised production processes, accurate quantification of bioactive components, and clinical validation of health claims. Future research should focus on optimising postbiotic production and strengthening evidence for their physiological effects to support their broader incorporation into next-generation dairy products.