Repeated inoculation of lactic acid bacteria in vegetable fermentations could result in problems with bacteriophages. Phages against Lactobacillus plantarum are stable in fermented vegetable juices. Phages are not inactivated by high-shear homogenization for up to 2 min. Alginate-based microencapsulation does not protect L. plantarum cells from phages during the fermentation because the beads dissolve. Calcium salts added to the vegetable juice prevents dissolution of alginate particles during the lactic fermentation. Calcium salts added to the vegetable juice enables the fermentation even in the presence of phages.