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Interactions between yeasts and bacteria in the smear surface-ripened cheeses.

In the initial phase of ripening, the microflora of bacterial smear surface-ripened cheeses such as Limburger, Taleggio, Brick, Münster and Saint-Paulin and that of surface mould-ripened cheeses such as Camembert and Brie may be similar, but at the end of the ripening, bacteria such as Brevibacterium spp., Arthrobacter spp., Micrococcus spp., Corynebacterium spp. and moulds such as Penicillium camemberti are, respectively, the dominant microorganisms. Yeasts such as Candida spp., Cryptococcus spp., Debaryomyces spp., Geotrichum candidum, Pichia spp., Rhodotorula spp., Saccharomyces spp. and Yarrowia lipolytica are often and variably isolated from the smear surface-ripened cheeses. Although not dominant within the microorganisms of the smear surface-ripened cheeses, yeasts establish significant interactions with moulds and especially bacteria, including surface bacteria and lactic acid bacteria. Some aspects of the interactions between yeasts and bacteria in such type of cheeses are considered in this paper.

Bacteria↗

Effects of the addition of Enterococcus faecalis in Cebreiro cheese manufacture.

Ten batches of Cebreiro, a fresh or short-ripened acid-curd cheese, produced in the Galician mountains (NW Spain) were prepared from pasteurized milk inoculated with microorganisms isolated from raw-milk cheese. Two control batches were made with a Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis starter; 8 batches were made with the lactococcal starter plus one of eight Enterococcus faecalis cultures: 4 E. faecalis var. liquefaciens (EFLB) and 4 E. faecalis var. faecalis (EFFB). Whey dry matter in the EFLB was notably higher than in the control batches and this was related to lower cheese yields. After over 15 days storage the highest counts of both aerobic bacteria and lactic acid bacteria were observed for the EFLB. The lower content in protein on dry matter was found in the EFLB. The beta-casein broke down to a greater extent in the EFLB than in the EFFB, the lowest values being obtained for the control batches. The higher level of hydrolysis of alphax1-casein and maximum peptide alpha(s1) - I/alpha(s1)-casein ratio were obtained for EFFB at day 15 of storage. In all the batches made with enterococci soluble nitrogen was higher than in the control batches, with the highest values in the EFLB. In all the batches made with enterococci, volatile free fatty acid, long-chain free fatty acids and diacetyl and acetoin contents at days 10 and 15 of storage were higher than in the control batches, the highest values being obtained for EFLB. Acetic acid in all batches accounted for the main proportion of the volatile free fatty acids. Butyric and caproic acids were not detected in the volatile free fatty acids fractions of the control batches, but both acids were detected in most of the batches made with enterococci. The more intense acid taste was found in the EFFB and control batches, the most bitter taste being found in the EFLB. Buttery, rancid and spicy flavors were more evident in the EFLB. The rancid and spicy flavors were positively correlated with the contents of volatile free fatty acids and long-chain free fatty acids. The cheeses of EFLB proved to be more crumbly than the EFFB, whereas the stickiness and deformability were higher in the EFFB. The batches with similar organoleptic characteristics to those of traditional cheese were the batch IV made with the less proteolytic strain of E. faecalis var. liquefaciens, and the batch VI made with a moderate lipolytic activity strain of E. faecalis var. faecalis.

Animals↗

PCR and RAPD identification of L. plantarum strains isolated from ovine milk and cheese. Geographical distribution of strains.

Lactobacilli, and specifically Lactobacillus plantarum, are an important group of microorganisms in ovine cheeses, even though they are not ordinarily included in the starter cultures added. The present study effected counts of lactobacilli in Roncal Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) milk and cheese samples and isolated a total of 1026 strains. The strains were identified to species level by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using L. plantarum-specific oligonucleotide primers, and the strains belonging to this species were then characterized by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). The percentage of L. plantarum present in the cheeses depended on the plant where the cheese was manufactured. Cluster analysis of the RAPD profiles obtained revealed seven main clusters. On comparing the strains, most of the strains present in the cheese were found not to have come from the raw milk.

Animals↗

Odour-impact compounds of Gorgonzola cheese.

Volatile concentrates were obtained by vacuum distillation from both natural and creamy Gorgonzola cheese and isolated by continuous liquid-liquid extraction. Both were analysed by high resolution gas chromatography (HRGC), HRGC-mass spectrometry and HRGC-olfactometry. A total of 63 components were identified in the neutral extract of the natural type (21 esters, 13 ketones, 14 alcohols, 5 aldehydes, 1 sulphur compound, 7 aromatic compounds and 2 terpenes) and 52 in the creamy type (17 esters, 12 ketones, 10 alcohols, 5 aldehydes, 1 sulphur compound, 5 aromatic compounds and 2 terpenes). Ketones, whose major components were 2-nonanone and 2-heptanone, were the predominant constituents of the neutral fraction. By olfactometric analysis of the neutral extracts, 23 odour-impact compounds were found in the natural and 21 in the creamy Gorgonzola cheese. 1-Octen-3-ol, ethyl hexanoate, 2-nonanone, 2-heptanone, 2-heptanol, ethyl butanoate, 2-nonanol and 4-methylanisole were the key odorants of the natural cheese, whereas 2-heptanone, 2-heptanol, ethyl butanoate, 3-methyl thiopropanal and an unidentified constituent with a fruity odour were characteristic of the creamy Gorgonzola cheese. On the basis of high odour unity values, 2-nonanone, 1-octen-3-ol, 2-heptanol, ethyl hexanoate, methylanisole and 2-heptanone were the most important odorants of natural and creamy Gorgonzola cheese aroma.

Animals↗

Effects of somatic cell count and stage of lactation on raw milk composition and the yield and quality of Cheddar cheese.

The effects of somatic cell count and stage of lactation on the yield and quality of Cheddar cheese were investigated. Cheese was manufactured in a pilot scale factory using milk of low bulk milk cell count (BMCC) from herds in early (LE) and late (LL) lactation, and milk of high BMCC from herds in early (HE) and late (HL) lactation. The deleterious effect of an elevated BMCC on product yield and quality in late lactation was clear. Cheese made from LL milk was significantly superior to that made from HL milk for most yield and quality characteristics measured. Stage of lactation also affected cheese yield and quality, as evidenced by the lower recovery of fat and poorer flavour score for cheese from LL milk compared with that manufactured from LE milk. The observed differences could be explained largely by differences in raw milk composition. We conclude that the effect of stage of lactation was magnified by an elevated BMCC, and that many of the problems encountered when processing late season milk could be overcome by containing mastitis at this time.

Animals↗

Streptococcus thermophilus in cheddar cheese--production and fate of galactose.

The behaviour of Streptococcus thermophilus in combination with Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris or subsp. lactis mesophilic starters in experimental Cheddar cheese is reported. In a standard manufacturing procedure employing a 38 degrees C cook temperature, even very low levels (0.007%) of Str. thermophilus combined with normal levels of the mesophilic starter (1.7%) resulted in increased rates of acid production, the formation of significant amounts of galactose (approximately 13 mmol/kg cheese), and populations nearly equivalent to those of the mesophilic lactic starter in the curd before salting. At a 41 degrees C cook temperature, the Str. thermophilus attained a higher maximum population (approximately log 8.2 colony forming units (cfu)/g) than the Lc. lactis subsp. cremoris (approximately log 6.8 cfu/g) and formed more galactose (approximately 28 mmol/kg). Lactobacillus rhamnosus, deliberately added to a cheese made using Str. thermophilus starter and which contained 24 mmol galactose/kg at day one, utilized all the galactose during the first 3 months of cheese ripening. Adventitious non-starter lactic acid bacteria had the potential to utilize this substrate too, and a close relationship was demonstrated between the increase in this flora and the disapearance of the galactose. Some possible consequences for cheese quality of using Str. thermophilus as a starter component are discussed.

Cheese↗

Use of duplex polymerase chain reaction (duplex-PCR) technique to identify bovine and water buffalo milk used in making mozzarella cheese.

Molecular biology techniques have been used for species identification in food of animal origin in relatively recent years. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based method, the multiplex PCR, was recently applied to species identification in meat and meat products. It allows co-amplification of separate regions of a single gene or specific fragments, each typical of a different animal species in a single PCR reaction, using different pairs of primers in the same reaction mix. In the present paper, the duplex-PCR technique is proposed to identify bovine and water buffalo DNA in a single PCR assay in milk and mozzarella cheese (a typical Italian cheese, originally made from pure water buffalo milk). Because of its lower cost, undeclared bovine milk is added to water buffalo milk for making different kinds of mozzarella cheese. The results of this experiment indicate the applicability of this method, which showed an absolute specificity for the two species and a high sensitivity even down to low DNA concentrations (1 pg). In bovine and water buffalo mixtures of both milk and mozzarella cheese, the minimum concentration tested was 1% of bovine in water buffalo milk and water buffalo in bovine milk. The importance of the somatic cell content in raw milk is also discussed with special reference to the evaluation of mixtures (milk or cheese) of the two species.

Animals↗

Influence of selected factors on browning of Camembert cheese.

Experimental Camembert cheeses were made to investigate the effects on browning of the following factors: inoculation with Yarrowia lipolytica, the use of Penicillium candidum strains with different proteolytic activity, the addition of tyrosine, and the addition of Mn2+ thus leading to 16 different variants of cheese. Two physical colour parameters were used to describe browning, depending on the location in the cheeses: a whiteness index for the outside browning (mould mycelium), and a brownness index for the inside browning (surface of the cheese body). Mn2+ promoted a significant increase of browning at both locations, whereas Yar. lipolytica had the opposite effect. Outside browning was significantly more intense when using the Pen. candidum strain with higher proteolytic activity. A significant interaction was found between Yar. lipolytica and Pen. candidum. The yeast had no effect in combination with a low proteolytic strain of Pen. candidum, but significantly reduced proteolysis and browning in combination with a high proteolytic strain of Pen. candidum. We further confirmed that both strains of Pen. candidum were able to produce brown pigments from tyrosine and thus both are presumably responsible for the browning activity in this type of cheese.

Animals↗

Texture, proteolysis and viable lactic acid bacteria in commercial cheddar cheeses treated with high pressure.

High pressure processing was investigated for controlling Cheddar cheese ripening. One-month-or 4-month-old Cheddar cheeses were subjected to pressures ranging from 200 to 800 MPa for 5 min at 25 C. The number of viable Lactococcus lactis (starter) and Lactobacillus (nonstarter) cells decreased as pressure increased. Subsequent storage of the control and pressure-treated cheeses at 10 degrees C caused viable cell counts to change in some cases. Free amino acid content was monitored as an indicator of proteolysis. Cheeses treated with pressures > or = 400 MPa evolved free amino acids at significantly lower rates than the control. No acceleration in free amino acid development was observed at lower pressures. Pressure treatment did not accelerate the rate of textural breakdown compared with the non-pressure treated control. On the contrary, pressure treatment at 800 MPa reduced the time-dependent texture changes. Results indicate that high pressure may be useful in arresting Cheddar cheese ripening.

Amino Acids↗

Controlled production of Camembert-type cheeses. Part I: Microbiological and physicochemical evolutions.

A holistic approach of a mould cheese ripening is presented. The objective was to establish relationships between the different microbiological and biochemical changes during cheese ripening. Model cheeses were prepared from pasteurized milk inoculated with Kluyveromyces lactis, Geotrichum candidum, Penicillium camemberti and Brevibacterium linens under aseptic conditions. Two cheese-making trials with efficient control of environmental parameters were carried out and showed similar ripening characteristics. K. lactis grew rapidly between days 1 and 6 (generation time around 48 h). G. candidum grew exponentially between days 4 and 10 (generation time around 4.6 d). Brevi. linens also grew exponentially but after day 6 when Pen. camemberti mycelium began developing and the pH of the rind was close to 7. Its exponential growth presented 3 phases in relation to carbon and nitrogen substrate availability. Concentrations of Pen. camemberti mycelium were not followed by viable cell count but they were evaluated visually. The viable microorganism concentrations were well correlated with the carbon substrate concentrations in the core and in the rind. The lactose concentrations were negligible after 10 d ripening, and changes in lactate quantities were correlated with fungi flora. The pH of the inner part depended on NH3. Surface pH was significantly related to NH3 concentration and to fungi growth. The acid-soluble nitrogen (ASN) and non-protein nitrogen (NPN) indexes and NH3 concentrations of the rind were low until day 6, and then increased rapidly to follow the fungi concentrations until day 45. The ASN and NPN indexes and NH3 concentrations in the core were lower than in the rind and they showed the same evolution. G. candidum and Pen. camemberti populations have a major effect on proteolysis; nevertheless, K. lactis and Brevi. linens cell lysis also had an impact on proteolysis. Viable cell counts of K. lactis, G. candidum, Pen. camemberti and Brevi. linens were correlated with the environmental conditions, with proteolytic products and with carbon substrate assimilation. NH3 diffusion from surface to the cheese core during ripening was highly suspected. Interaction phenomena between microorganisms are discussed.

Ammonia↗

In vitro screening of potential probiotic activities of selected lactobacilli isolated from unpasteurized milk products for incorporation into soft cheese.

The aim was to select potentially probiotic lactobacilli from 88 strains isolated from unpasteurized milk and cheese products, and to incorporate these bacteria in a viable state into a soft cheese, without changing its quality. The survival of these bacteria was assessed in acidic and bile conditions, after freezing at -80 degrees C. Four strains from unpasteurized Camembert--two Lactobacillus plantarum strains and two Lb. paracasei/casei strains--were identified and typed by PCR and PFGE and were found to display potentially probiotic characteristics in addition to resistance to low pH and bile. These characteristics were resistance to lysozyme, adhesion to CACO-2 cells, antimicrobial effects against common foodborne pathogens (Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, innocuity following the ingestion of high doses by mice and appropriate antibiotic susceptibility profiles. The potential of Lb. plantarum strain UCMA 3037 for incorporation into a soft cheese (Pont-l'Eveque registered designation of origin (RDO)) was investigated. This strain grew well and survived in sufficient numbers (more than 10(7) cfu/g throughout the shelf-life of the product) in the cheese. This strain did not change the quality score of the product until the best before date (75 days after manufacture). Thus, unpasteurized Camembert is a natural source of potentially probiotic lactobacilli, which could be used as an additive in the development of potentially probiotic soft cheeses. Further work is required to demonstrate the persistence and efficacy of these strains in the human host upon ingestion.

Animals↗

Effect of chymosin and salt reduction on the quality of ultrafiltrated white-salted cheese.

This study demonstrated that both chymosin and salt-in-moisture (SM) were important factors for proteolysis in the manufacture of ultrafiltrated white-salted cheese, with significant effects on water-soluble nitrogen and nitrogen soluble in trichloroacetic acid. In contrast, the levels of free amino acids were not significantly affected by chymosin and salt treatments. The cheeses made, using high levels of chymosin with low SM had lower levels of residual alpha(S1)- and beta-casein at the end of ripening. On texture profile analysis, the hardness and fracturability of the cheeses significantly increased with SM and decreased during ripening. Increases in chymosin significantly contributed to the overall weakening of the structure throughout ripening. Bitter flavour was detected after 12 weeks in the cheese made with the higher chymosin level and lower SM, which could be the result of accumulation of gamma-casein fractions. The sensory data indicated that the hedonic responses for low chymosin with low SM cheeses were good and acceptable in flavour, which may be due to the moderate levels of proteolysis products.

Cheese↗

Early PCR detection of tyramine-producing bacteria during cheese production.

Biogenic amines (BA) are toxic substances that appear in foods and beverages. Tyramine is the most abundant BA in cheeses. A PCR method was developed to detect the presence of tyramine-producing bacteria during cheese manufacture and ripening. Six different batches of a farmhouse blue cheese were analysed by PCR. Tyramine concentrations were also determined by HPLC. The PCR method was able to anticipate tyramine accumulation in the cheeses; the presence of tyramine-producing microorganisms in the early stages of manufacture correlated well with a high concentration of BA in mature cheese samples.

Cheese↗

The effect of Egyptian honeybee propolis on the growth of Aspergillus versicolor and sterigmatocystin biosynthesis in Ras cheese.

Propolis is a natural product collected by honeybee workers. The product was tested for its antifungal effect against Aspergillus versicolor ATCC 12996 as well as biosynthesis of sterigmatocystin during ripening of Egyptian Ras cheese. The use of different concentrations of aqueous propolis extract 250, 500 and 1000 part per million (ppm) on the cheese surface was investigated. Mould growth and toxin production were completely inhibited at the highest concentration 1000 ppm, while the lower concentrations exhibited definite fungistatic activity during 90 days of ripening. Control cheese demonstrated that the amount of sterigmatocystin produced was proportional to the growth of Asp. versicolor during three months of ripening. It could be concluded that propolis concentration of 1000 ppm could prevent mould growth and sterigmatocystin production in Ras cheese. The economic as well as the public health importance of propolis as a natural preservative in cheese manufacture is discussed.

Animals↗

Biogenic amines and polyamines in milks and cheeses by ion-pair high performance liquid chromatography.

The proposed chromatographic method provides a complete resolution of twelve amines in a single run in milks and unripened cheeses, avoiding the losses of resolution linked to fluctuations in working temperature. We also propose an alternative chromatographic gradient, which can be useful for samples that have undergone long ripening periods, like ripened cheeses. According to the results of the reliability study, the method described was precise, accurate, and sensitive. The method was applied to several samples of milks and cheeses and the results showed that the biogenic amine profiles varied greatly, not only between different types of samples but also among the samples from the same kind of products. In unripened cheeses, milks, and yogurts, spermidine and spermine were the prevailing amines, but in ripened cheeses the major amine was tyramine, followed by putrescine and cadaverine.

Animals↗

Evolution of the composition of a selected bitter Camembert cheese during ripening: release and migration of taste-active compounds.

The aim of this study was to add to the understanding of changes in taste that occur during the ripening of a bitter Camembert cheese by the evolution of its composition. Physicochemical analyses were performed on rind, under-rind, and center portions of a Camembert cheese selected for its intense bitterness. At each of the six steps of ripening studied organic acids, sugars, total nitrogen, soluble nitrogen, phosphotungstic acid soluble nitrogen, non-protein nitrogen, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Pi, Cl, and biogenic amines were quantified in each portion. Changes in cheese composition seemed to mainly result from the development of Penicillium camemberti on the cheese outer layer. Migration phenomena and the release of potentially taste-active compounds allowed for the evolution of saltiness, sourness, and bitterness throughout ripening to be better understood. Apart from taste-active compounds, the impact of the cheese matrix on its taste development is discussed.

Carbohydrates↗

Characteristic aroma components of British Farmhouse Cheddar cheese.

Aroma components responsible for aroma typical of British Farmhouse Cheddar cheese were studied by aroma extract dilution analysis. Cheese extracts were prepared by direct solvent extraction, high-vacuum transfer, and class fractionation. Most aroma-active components of acidic and neutral/basic fractions have been previously associated with Cheddar cheese flavor. p-Cresol was mainly responsible for a "cowy-barny" note, whereas an intense "soil-like" note was due to 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine. At much lower odor intensity, 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine contributed a "bell pepper-like" note. Additionally, within the same wedge of cheese, the concentrations of p-cresol and 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine were lower at the narrow end (center) than at the rind side. Direct addition of p-cresol (> or =100 ppb) or 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (> or =3 ppb) in a mild domestic Cheddar cheese resulted in increases in intensities of cowy/phenolic and earthy/bell pepper aroma notes.

Animals↗

Transmission electron microscopy of mozzarella cheeses made from microfluidized milk.

The nanostructure of Mozzarella cheeses prepared from microfluidized milk was compared with that of control cheeses made from untreated milk. Milk heated to 10 or 54 degrees C and containing 1.0 or 3.2% fat was homogenized by microfluidization at 34 or 172 MPa prior to cheesemaking. The effects on the casein particles and fat globules in the cheese were determined by transmission electron microscopy after 1 day and 6 weeks of storage at 4 degrees C. The micrographs showed that electron-dense regions theorized to be casein submicelles rearranged from a homogeneous configuration to a pattern of clusters during the storage period. The nanostructure of the cheeses made from milk processed under the mildest conditions resembled the controls, but otherwise the fat droplets decreased in size and increased in number as the pressure and temperature were increased. The results indicate that both homogenization temperature and pressure affect the nanostructure of Mozzarella cheese.

Animals↗