Biogenic amine content and proteolysis in Manchego cheese manufactured with Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei as adjunct and other autochthonous strains as starters

Two different autochthonous strain starter cultures, in which the acidifying starter was composed of strains of Lactococcus lactis, were used for the manufacture of pasteurised milk Manchego cheese. Proteolysis parameters, biogenic amines and sensory characteristics were evaluated and compared with those of commercial starter Manchego cheese and raw milk Manchego cheese manufactured without starter. Autochthonous starter cheeses, and especially those including Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei as adjunct, presented higher levels of proteolysis than in commercial starter cheese. The concentrations of total biogenic amines in autochthonous starter cheeses were much lower than in raw milk cheese and even lower than in commercial starter cheese. Cheese manufactured with the adjunct strain gave the best results for both flavour intensity and flavour quality, and was the most preferred by panellists. The results suggest that the culture containing Lb. paracasei subsp. paracasei as adjunct could be used for the manufacture of industrial Manchego cheese.     

Influence of microfiltration and adjunct culture on quality of Domiati cheese

The effects of microfiltration and pasteurization processes on proteolysis, lipolysis, and flavor development in Domiati cheese during 2 mo of pickling were studied. Cultures of starter lactic acid bacteria isolated from Egyptian dairy products were evaluated in experimental Domiati cheese for flavor development capabilities. In the first trial, raw skim milk was microfiltered and then the protein:fat ratio was standardized using pasteurized cream. Pasteurized milk with same protein:fat ratio was also used in the second trial. The chemical composition of cheeses seemed to be affected by milk treatment—microfiltration or pasteurization—rather than by the culture types. The moisture content was higher and the pH was lower in pasteurized milk cheeses than in microfiltered milk cheeses at d 1 of manufacture. Chemical composition of experimental cheeses was within the legal limits for Domiati cheese in Egypt. Proteolysis and lipolysis during cheese pickling were lower in microfiltered milk cheeses compared with pasteurized milk cheeses. Highly significant variations in free amino acids, free fatty acids, and sensory evaluation were found among the cultures used in Domiati cheesemaking. The cheese made using adjunct culture containing Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. lactis, Lactobacillus paracasei ssp. paracasei, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Enterococcus faecium received high scores in flavor acceptability. Cheeses made from microfiltered milk received a higher score in body and texture compared with cheeses made from pasteurized milk.     

Influence of reuterin-producing Lactobacillus reuteri coupled with glycerol on biochemical,physical and sensory properties of semi-hard ewe milk cheese

The biochemical, physical and sensory characteristics of ewe milk cheeses made with reuterin-producing Lactobacillus reuteri and glycerol (substrate for reuterin production) were assessed. Cheese made with lactococci starter (CTRL), cheese made with starter and L. reuteri (SLR), and cheese made with starter, L. reuteri and 30 mM glycerol (SLR-G) were manufactured. L. reuteri reached counts above 7 log cfu/g on day 1. Lactococci survival was enhanced in SLR cheese without affecting cheese pH, dry matter, proteolysis, concentration of most free amino acids (FAA), textural and most color parameters, or sensory characteristics. In situ production of reuterin by L. reuteri was only detected in SLR-G cheese, decreasing LAB counts although acidification remained unaffected. SLR-G cheese showed higher values of cell free aminopeptidase activity, overall proteolysis and FAA, particularly glutamic acid, than CTRL and SLR cheeses. The addition of L. reuteri-glycerol resulted in lower hardness and elasticity values in SLR-G cheese and influenced its L*, a* and b* color parameters. However, these changes, which were detected by instrumental analysis, did not affect the sensory scores for texture and color quality of SLR-G cheese, and it received the highest scores for taste quality. Our results suggest that L. reuteri-glycerol may provide a suitable system to release the antimicrobial reuterin in cheese without affecting negatively its sensory characteristics.     

Influence of pasteurised milk, raw milk and different ripening cultures on biogenic amine concentrations in semi-soft cheeses during ripening

In semi-soft cheeses, produced with pasteurised milk, raw milk and different starter cultures, the concentrations of cadaverine, histamine, phenylethylamine, putrescine and tyramine were investigated. The cultures (pasteurised milk cultures, raw milk cultures and starter cultures) strongly influenced the biogenic amine concentrations in the cheeses ripened for 5 months. Two cheeses made with identical pasteurised milk, but different ripening cultures, differed greatly in their total biogenic amine concentrations (51 vs 371?mg/kg). In general, the biogenic amine concentrations increased markedly between month 2 and month 3 of cheese ripening. The high content of enterococci and Enterobacteriaceae yielded the biogenic amine concentrations. In contrast, Lactobacilli did not seem to be important. However, unspecified bacteria have to be considered, since cheeses with comparable microbiological profiles differed enormously in their biogenic amine concentrations. Semi-soft cheeses produced from pasteurised milk showed remarkably lower total biogenic amine concentrations compared to semi-soft cheeses produced from raw milk (51–1096?mg/kg vs 1011–3133?mg/kg, depending also on the ripening cultures). The highest total biogenic amine concentration (4817?mg/kg) was detected in a cheese produced from raw milk that had been stored for 36?h. In this cheese, the concentrations of cadaverine, phenylethylamine, putrescine and tyramine were higher than in all other cheeses. The highest histamine concentration was found to be in another raw milk cheese (573?mg/kg).     

Lipolysis in Urfa cheese produced from raw and pasteurized goats’ and cows’ milk with mesophilic or thermophilic cultures during ripening

Lipolysis was evaluated in Urfa cheese made from raw and pasteurized goats’ and cows’ milk with mesophilic or thermophilic cultures. The acid degree values (ADVs) of the cows’ milk cheeses were significantly (P < 0.05) higher until 60 d of storage than that of cheese made from goats’ milk. Total free fatty acid (FFA) contents of goats’ milk cheese were significantly (P < 0.001) lower than that of cows’ milk cheese throughout ripening, whereas goats’ milk cheese flavour was higher (P < 0.05) than cows’ milk cheese. Pasteurization of milk prior to cheese-making has a negative influence, not only on the level of lipolysis throughout ripening, but also on the relative amounts of short chain FFAs and sensory properties of the cheeses (P < 0.001). Cheese produced without starter bacteria underwent significantly (P < 0.05) higher lipolysis than cheeses produced with mesophilic or thermophilic starter bacteria, while cheese made with thermophilic starter culture had similar flavour to cheese made without starter culture.     

Employment of autochthonous microflora in Pecorino Sardo cheese manufacturing and evolution of physicochemical parameters during ripening

The isolation and identification of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from raw ewes’ milk and traditional Pecorino Sardo cheese made from this milk without the addition of starter culture was carried out to define the autochthonous lactic microflora present in milk and the evolution of LAB during cheese ripening. Isolation of 275 strains belonging to different Lactococcus, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus and Enterococcus species was achieved. Coccal-shaped LAB were found to predominate during cheese fermentation, while lactobacilli were preponderate during the latter phase of ripening. The technological selection of a total of 174 LAB strains belonging to the species Lactococcus lactis, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus helveticus and Lb. casei allowed an experimental starter to be prepared, in which a potentially probiotic species, Lb. casei was used. The suitability of the autochthonous starter culture was tested in cheese-making trials, using thermised ewes’ milk, by comparing experimental Pecorino Sardo cheese with a control cheese produced at industrial scale using a whey starter culture from previous batches of manufacture. In particular, microbiological and physicochemical parameters were determined over 210 days of cheese ripening. Although sensory evaluation did not show any significant difference between experimental and control Pecorino Sardo cheeses, the use of the selected autochthonous starter allowed the production of experimental cheese with a significantly higher level of free amino acids, in particular essential amino acids, in comparison with the Pecorino Sardo control cheeses.     

Novel Streptococcus infantarius subsp. infantarius variants harboring lactose metabolism genes homologous to Streptococcus thermophilus

The biodiversity and growth dynamics of Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) in farm-house Ossau-Iraty cheeses were investigated from vat milk to 180 days of ripening in six independent batches made from six raw ewe’s milks using five typical cheese-making methods. Commercial starter S1 was used for three batches, starter S1 combined with S2 for one batch and no starter for two batches.Up to ten LAB species from five genera and up to two strains per species were identified per milk; up to eleven species from five genera and up to three strains per species were identified per cheese. Lactococcus lactis, Lactobacillus paracasei, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus durans, and Leuconostoc mesenteroides were detected in all cheeses. Lactococci reached the highest counts irrespective of the milk and starter used. Lactococci and enterococci increased during manufacture, and mesophilic lactobacilli increased during ripening. Strain and species numbers, the percentage of isolates originating from the raw milk, maximum counts of each genus/species and time for reaching them, all varied according to whether or not a starter was used and the composition of the starter. The genotypes of strains within species varied according to the raw milk used. This generated distinct LAB microbiotas throughout manufacture and ripening that will certainly impact on the characteristics of the ripened cheeses.     

The effects of starter culture on chemical composition, microbiological and sensory characteristics of Turkish Kaşar Cheese during ripening

Kaşar cheese samples were produced from raw milk and starter culture-added pasteurized milk. Chemical, microbiological and organoleptic properties of kaşar cheeses were analysed at certain times during the ripening periods (on the 1st, 7th, 15th, 30th, 60th, 90th days). Generally, chemical parameters were not affected by starter culture. The pH, ripening index, water-soluble nitrogen and non-protein nitrogen did not show significant differences between the cheese samples. The addition of starter affected the microbiological quality of the cheeses. Starter culture-added kaşar cheeses contained low levels of total aerobic mesophilic bacteria, moulds and yeasts, and coliforms, and achieved higher organoleptic scores than those of cheeses made from raw milk. The starter cultures contributed to acidity and microbial quality of the cheese.     

Microbiological and biochemical characteristics of Kashkaval cheese produced using pasteurised or raw milk

Microbiological quality and biochemical changes of Kashkaval cheese manufactured using sheep's raw milk without starter addition or pasteurised milk with an added commercial starter were studied. Mature cheeses had pH values 5.0–5.3, salt content 2.1–2.7%, protein content 23.3–25.1%, moisture content 36.8–39.5%, fat content 28.0–32.2%, and ash content around 5.0%. In raw milk cheeses, mesophilic non-starter lactobacilli prevailed followed by enterococci. In pasteurised milk cheeses Lactococcus lactis starter prevailed. All cheeses were safe according to the criteria in Regulation (EC) 1441/2007. The proteolysis index was around 20%. Butyric, myristic, palmitic, stearic and oleic were the principal free fatty acids in both cheeses. Ketones were abundant in pasteurised milk cheeses and esters in mature raw milk cheeses. Pasteurisation did not affect (P > 0.05) the physicochemical composition and the proteolysis of cheeses. Raw milk cheeses showed higher levels (P < 0.05) of lipolysis than pasteurised milk cheeses.     

Applicability of heat-stable deoxyribonuclease assay for assessment of staphylococcal growth and the likely presence of enterotoxin in cheese

The relationships between growth of Staphylococcus aureus and production of deoxyribonuclease and enterotoxin A in cheese were evaluated. Conditions of cheese manufacture, such as the nature of milk used (heated or raw), type of lactic starter, and degree of starter activity, influenced deoxyribonuclease production. There was a close correlation between the S. aureus population and deoxyribonuclease content (correlation .88 in Cheddar and Colby cheeses for normal or inhibited starter, and .85 in Brick cheese for normal starter). Conditions which affected deoxyribonuclease production also had a similar influence on production of enterotoxin A. Detection of the former is especially useful in cheeses which may have had a partial starter failure not detected by the usual criteria of starter activity such as the titratable acidity of whey or the final pH of cheese. While the viable S. aureus population declined during aging, both deoxyribonuclease and enterotoxin A persisted for an extended time (3 yr at 4.4 C) in cheese of normal or inhibited starter.     

Characterisation of the technological behaviour of mixtures of mesophilic lactic acid bacteria isolated from traditional cheeses made of raw milk without added starters

In this work, the technological behaviour in milk of a set of Lactococcus lactis strains, alone or in combination with strains of Leuconostoc spp. and Lactobacillus spp. isolated from traditional, raw milk cheeses made without commercial starters, was investigated. Small, mixture‐specific differences during milk fermentation were recorded for growth, milk acidification and production of organic acids, volatile compounds, free amino acids and biogenic amines. Four combinations appropriate for use as dairy starters were tested in pilot‐scale cheese trials. Two mixtures produced cheeses of high flavour and taste quality; these could be confidently used as starter cultures.     

Comparison of Fascal cheese produced with natural,commercial or autochthonous cultures

Lactic acid bacteria were isolated from raw ovine milk and Fascal cheese and used as two alternative inoculants for production of this Brazilian cheese. Microbiological counts and moisture of these cheeses were comparable to those observed in cheese made with a commercial starter. All cheeses showed absence of Salmonella spp., tolerable counts of coliforms, but coagulase‐positive staphylococci counts exceeded the standard values. Cheeses produced with Lactobacillus plantarum LCN 28 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus LCN 43 showed better results than those observed for the other experimental combinations. Autochthonous cultures could be beneficial to the manufacture of high quality typical raw milk cheese.     

Preliminary observations on proteolysis in Manchego cheese made with a defined-strain starter culture and adjunct starter (Lactobacillus plantarum) or a commercial starter

Different authors have demonstrated the potential of adding lactobacilli as adjunct cultures to pasteurized milk used in cheese manufacture. The aim of this work was to observe the effect of the use of a defined-strain starter culture and the addition of an adjunct culture (Lactobacillus plantarum) to cheesemilk in order to determine their effect on the ripening of Manchego cheese. Manchego cheeses were manufactured using one of the following starter culture systems: a defined starter consisting of Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis and Leuconostoc mesenteroides ssp. dextranicum; a defined starter, as described above, and Lb. plantarum, which were isolated from a good quality Manchego cheese made from raw milk, or a commercial starter comprised of two strains of Lc. lactis. The cheeses were sampled at 15, 45, 90 and 150 d of ripening. Principal component analysis of peak heights of reversed-phase HPLC chromatograms of 70% (v/v) ethanol-insoluble and -soluble fractions distributed the samples according to the starter used in their manufacture. Quantitative differences in several peptides were evident between the three cheeses. Cheeses made with the defined-strain starters received higher scores for the flavour quality and intensity and for overall impression than the cheeses made with the commercial starter.     

Volatile composition and improvement of the aroma of industrial Manchego cheese by using Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei as adjunct and other autochthonous strains as starters

The use of several autochthonous strains of lactic acid bacteria, including Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei as adjunct of the starter in the manufacture of Manchego cheese, was evaluated in an attempt to improve the aroma of the industrial Manchego cheese. Volatile composition and odour characteristics were evaluated and compared to those in Manchego cheese manufactured with a commercial starter (CS) culture and with raw milk cheese manufactured without starter. Manchego cheeses manufactured with two autochthonous strains of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis displayed a similar volatile profile and odour characteristics to the cheese made with the CS. The use of the strain Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei CECT 7882 as adjunct of the Lactococcus strains produced cheeses with higher amounts of some free fatty acids and alcohols, acetoin, lactones, phenylacetaldehyde, 2-phenylethanol and linalool, and higher scores of the odour intensity, odour quality, and ewe’s milk odour than the CS cheeses. It resulted in an intensification and improvement of industrial Manchego cheese aroma.     

Imitation Cheese Manufacture Using Rapid Visco-Analyzer and Its Optimization

Imitation cheeses in a laboratory-scale (100-g) made by a rapid visco analyzer (RVA) at different stirring speeds (200, 300, 450 rpm) were investigated with a control (Stephan cooker at 1,500 rpm) at 85 °C through functional properties, microstructure and sensory evaluation. Compared to the cheeses made by the Stephan cooker, the cheese made by RVA was significantly (P < 0.05) more green, more yellow and noticeably less white than all other cheeses, which had a decrease in the L* values and an increase in a* and b* values. TPA values of imitation cheese made by the RVA at 450 rpm were lower than that cheese made by other speed. However, the imitation cheeses of 450 rpm was significantly (P < 0.05) higher, which was similar with the fat leakage of imitation cheese manufactured by Stephan cooker. The melt of imitation cheese significantly (P < 0.05) reduced by increasing the stirring speed of RVA. While significant, the melt of the 1,500 rpm cheese was smaller than all other cheeses. Increasing the stirring speed of RVA showed a more effective fat emulsification and a uniform protein matrix. Sensory analysis showed the imitation cheese made by RVA at 450 rpm was similar to the control made by Stephan cooker. Subsequently, the stirring speed, mixing time and heating temperature were optimized at 450 rpm, 7.50 min and 86 °C by response surface methodology (RSM). Results indicated that RVA could make imitation cheeses as well as the functional properties of the control in a laboratory-scale.     

Microbiota characterization of a Belgian protected designation of origin cheese,Herve cheese,using metagenomic analysis

Herve cheese is a Belgian soft cheese with a washed rind, and is made from raw or pasteurized milk. The specific microbiota of this cheese has never previously been fully explored and the use of raw or pasteurized milk in addition to starters is assumed to affect the microbiota of the rind and the heart. The aim of the study was to analyze the bacterial microbiota of Herve cheese using classical microbiology and a metagenomic approach based on 16S ribosomal DNA pyrosequencing. Using classical microbiology, the total counts of bacteria were comparable for the 11 samples of tested raw and pasteurized milk cheeses, reaching almost 8 log cfu/g. Using the metagenomic approach, 207 different phylotypes were identified. The rind of both the raw and pasteurized milk cheeses was found to be highly diversified. However, 96.3 and 97.9% of the total microbiota of the raw milk and pasteurized cheese rind, respectively, were composed of species present in both types of cheese, such as Corynebacterium casei, Psychrobacter spp., Lactococcus lactis ssp. cremoris, Staphylococcus equorum, Vagococcus salmoninarum, and other species present at levels below 5%. Brevibacterium linens were present at low levels (0.5 and 1.6%, respectively) on the rind of both the raw and the pasteurized milk cheeses, even though this bacterium had been inoculated during the manufacturing process. Interestingly, Psychroflexus casei, also described as giving a red smear to Raclette-type cheese, was identified in small proportions in the composition of the rind of both the raw and pasteurized milk cheeses (0.17 and 0.5%, respectively). In the heart of the cheeses, the common species of bacteria reached more than 99%. The main species identified were Lactococcus lactis ssp. cremoris, Psychrobacter spp., and Staphylococcus equorum ssp. equorum. Interestingly, 93 phylotypes were present only in the raw milk cheeses and 29 only in the pasteurized milk cheeses, showing the high diversity of the microbiota. Corynebacterium casei and Enterococcus faecalis were more prevalent in the raw milk cheeses, whereas Psychrobacter celer was present in the pasteurized milk cheeses. However, this specific microbiota represented a low proportion of the cheese microbiota. This study demonstrated that Herve cheese microbiota is rich and that pasteurized milk cheeses are microbiologically very close to raw milk cheeses, probably due to the similar manufacturing process. The characterization of the microbiota of this particular protected designation of origin cheese was useful in enabling us to gain a better knowledge of the bacteria responsible for the character of this cheese.     

Selection, application and monitoring of Lactobacillus paracasei strains as adjunct cultures in the production of Gouda-type cheeses

Raw milk cheeses have more intense flavours than cheeses made from pasteurized milk and harbour strains with potential adjunct properties. Two Lactobacillus paracasei strains, R-40926 and R-40937, were selected as potential adjunct cultures from a total of 734 isolates from good quality artisan raw milk Gouda-type cheeses on the basis of their prevalence in different cheese types and/or over several production batches, safety and technological parameters. Conventional culturing, isolation and identification and a combined PCR-DGGE approach using total cheese DNA extracts and DNA extracts obtained from culturable fractions were employed to monitor viability of the introduced adjuncts and their effect on the cheese microbiota. The control cheese made without adjuncts was dominated by members of the starter, i.e. Lactococcus lactis and Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides. In the cheeses containing either R-40926 or R-40937, the respective adjuncts increased in number as ripening progressed indicating that both strains are well adapted to the cheese environment and can survive in a competitive environment in the presence of a commercial starter culture. Principal component analysis of cheese volatiles determined by steam distillation-extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry could differentiate cheeses made with different concentrations of adjunct R-40926 from the control cheese, and these differences could be correlated to the proteolytic and lipolytic properties of this strain. Collectively, results from microbiological and metabolic analyses indicate that the screening procedure followed throughout this study was successful in delivering potential adjunct candidates to enrich or extend the flavour palette of artisan Gouda-type cheeses under more controlled conditions.     

Effect of addition of native cultures on characteristics of Armada cheese manufactured with pasteurized milk: A preliminary study

Six batches of Armada cheese were produced, one from raw milk with no added starter, another from pasteurized milk with a commercial mesophilic starter and four from pasteurized milk with experimental starters. These starters included: Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis and L. lactis subsp. lactis biovar. diacetylactis; or the same strains plus either Enterococcus raffinosus, Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. dextranicum or Lactobacillus plantarum, all isolated from Armada cheese made from raw milk. The highest counts of aerobic mesophilic bacteria and populations of lactic acid bacteria for all batches were reached in the first week of ripening. These counts declined later throughout the ripening, although not at identical rates in every batch. Counts of lactobacilli were significantly higher in cheeses made from raw milk and those inoculated with the lactobacilli strain than in the other batches, over the whole ripening period. Added native starters minimized growth of Enterobacteriaceae. Cheeses made with the starter containing the Enterococcus strain had the most favourable sensory attributes throughout ripening.     

Effect of pasteurization of Ewe's milk and use of a native starter culture on the volatile components and sensory characteristics of roncal cheese.

The effect of pasteurization of milk and use of a native starter culture on the volatile components and sensory characteristics of a Spanish ewe's-milk cheese were examined. Three cheese batches were made, one from raw milk, another from pasteurized milk, and a third from pasteurized milk with an added native starter culture in addition to the commercial starter. Cheeses were analyzed at 1, 120, and 240 d of ripening. Analysis of the volatile components was by purge and trap connected to a gas chromatograph with a mass spectrometer and disclosed a total of 76 components belonging to the following chemical families: hydrocarbons, fatty acids, esters, sulfur and carbonyl compounds, and, in particular, alcohols. Pasteurization lowered the levels of certain volatile components, especially alcohols, aldehydes, and ketones. The cheeses made from pasteurized milk showed lower scores for attributes of characteristic taste and aftertaste, as well as a characteristic aroma at 240 d of ripening. These results suggest that the components present in higher concentrations in the cheeses made from the raw milk were necessary for development of characteristic Roncal cheese aroma. The new native starter culture tested did not exert a significant effect on any of the parameters considered, with the exception of certain isolated components, for which higher or lower quantities were recorded in the cheeses made with that starter culture, although the differences did not have a definite effect on the sensory characteristics of the cheeses.     

Utilization of microfiltration or lactoperoxidase system or both for manufacture of Cheddar cheese from raw milk

The objective of the present study was to determine if application of microfiltration (MF) or raw milk lactoperoxidase system (LP) could reduce the risk of foodborne illness from Escherichia coli in raw milk cheeses, without adversely affecting the overall sensory acceptability of the cheeses. Escherichia coli K12 was added to raw milk to study its survival as a non-pathogenic surrogate organism for pathogenic E. coli. Five replications of 6 treatments of Cheddar cheese were manufactured. The 6 treatments included cheeses made from pasteurized milk (PM), raw milk (RM), raw milk inoculated with E. coli K12 (RME), raw milk inoculated with E. coli K12 + LP activation (RMELP), raw milk inoculated with E. coli K12 + MF (MFE), and raw milk inoculated with E. coli K12 + MF + LP activation (MFELP). The population of E. coli K12 was enumerated in the cheese milks, in whey/curds during cheese manufacture, and in final Cheddar cheeses during ripening. Application of LP, MF, and a combination of MF and LP led to an average percentage reduction of E. coli K12 counts in cheese milk by 72, 88, and 96%, respectively. However, E. coli K12 populations significantly increased during the manufacture of Cheddar cheese for the reasons not related to contamination. The number of E. coli K12, however, decreased by 1.5 to 2 log cycles during 120 d of ripening, irrespective of the treatments. The results suggest that MF with or without LP significantly lowers E. coli count in raw milk. Hence, if reactivation of E. coli during cheese making could be prevented, MF with or without LP would be an effective technique for reducing the counts of E. coli in raw milk cheeses. The cheeses were also analyzed for proteolysis, starter and nonstarter lactic acid bacteria (NSLAB), and sensory characteristics during ripening. The concentration of pH 4.6 soluble nitrogen at 120 d was greater in PM cheese compared with the other treatments. The level of 12% trichloroacetic acid-soluble nitrogen at 120 d was greater in RM, RME, and RMELP cheeses compared with PM, MFE, and MFELP cheeses. This could be related to the fact that cheeses made from raw milk with or without LP (RM, RME, and RMELP) had greater levels of NSLAB compared with PM, MFE, and MFELP cheeses. Cheeses at 60 d, as evaluated by 8 trained panelists, did not differ in bitterness, pastiness, or curdiness attributes. Cheeses at 120 d showed no differences in acid-taste, bitterness, or curdiness attributes. Sensory analysis at 60 d showed that PM and MFELP cheeses had greater overall sensory acceptability than RM and RME cheeses. The overall sensory acceptability of the cheeses at 120 d showed that PM, MFE, and MFELP cheeses were more acceptable than RM and RME cheeses.