A food or cosmetic composition containing active dextran sucrase enzymes which are produced by a strain of Leuconostoc mesenteroides ssp. cremoris and which synthesize dextran. In addition to culturing the strain in a food or cosmetic composition containing sucrose to obtain a composition containing the active enzymes, the strain may be cultured in a culture medium containing sucrose to obtain a culture product containing the active dextran sucrase enzymes which may be isolated from the culture product and incorporated into a food or cosmetic substance.