Nineteen different strains of lactobacilli, lactococci, streptococci and propionibacteria commonly used as dairy starter cultures were tested for their ability to produce conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) from free linoleic acid in vitro. Two strains of Propionibacterium freudenreichii ssp. freudenreichii and one strain of P. freudenreichii ssp. sheramnii were found to be capable of converting free linoleic acid to extracellular CLA. The highest level of CLA formed in the media was 265 micrograms ml-1. Of the different isomers, cis- and trans-9,11-octadecadienoic acid represented more than 70% of the total CLA formed. The inhibitory effect of linoleic acid on the growth of the bacteria and its conversion to CLA in different media by propionibacteria are discussed.