Application of high-pressure treatment on ovine brined cheese: Effect on composition and microflora throughout ripening

Ovine brined cheese was high-pressure (HP) treated at 200 or 500 MPa for 15 min at 20 °C on the 15th day of ripening. Compared to control cheese, HP treatment did not affect significantly (P > 0.05) the pH values, moisture, fat in dry matter, protein in dry matter and salt in moisture contents of cheeses at 90 days. The counts of total aerobic mesophilic bacteria, thermophilic lactococci, thermophilic lactobacilli and non starter lactic acid bacteria (NSLAB) were not affected by HP treatment of cheese at 200 MPa throughout ripening. After 90 days of ripening, the same microbial groups in cheese treated at 500 MPa were about 1.2, 3.6, 2.1 and 4 log units lower than in control cheese respectively. Coliforms were reduced faster at non detectable levels in HP treated cheeses than in control cheese. Regarding the bacterial enzymatic activities in cheese, aminopeptidase activity (Apep) was marginally favoured by both HP treatments. However, its activity was decreased at 90 days due probably to loss in brine. In contrast, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, following the bacteria cell lysis, was negatively affected by HP treatment at 500 MPa throughout ripening.Industrial relevanceThe data obtained from this work suggest that application of HP treatment under optimized conditions on ovine cheese in brine can be used to reduce effectively the undesirable microbial load in it and to cause moderate enhancement of aminopeptidase activity, without modifying its composition.     

Rheological and calcium equilibrium changes during the ripening of Cheddar cheese

The small deformation rheological properties and the calcium (Ca) equilibrium of Cheddar cheese were investigated as a function of ripening time. The proportion of insoluble Ca as a percentage of the total Ca decreased from ∼72 to 57% between 3 days and 9 months; most changes occurred within the first 4 weeks. During ripening, the storage modulus (G′) of the cheese increased at low temperature, but decreased rapidly at high temperature. At temperatures >40 °C, the loss tangent increased to reach a maximum at a temperature of ∼70 °C in young cheese and there was a steady decline in this temperature during ripening. The maximum loss tangent values increased substantially during the first 4 weeks and then showed little change. Changes in the insoluble Ca content significantly correlated with pH 4.6 soluble nitrogen (pH 4.6 SN). Partial correlation analysis indicated that the insoluble Ca content was more significantly correlated with the rheological properties than was pH 4.6 SN.     

不同包装方式对半硬质干酪成熟期间蛋白质降解的影响

对真空包装和涂蜡包装的半硬质干酪成熟过程中蛋白降解进行了研究。结果表明:2种包装的干酪在成熟过程中pH 4.6SN含量和12%TCA-SN含量都随着时间的延长逐渐增大,且2组数据之间差异显著(P<0.05);2种包装的干酪中游离氨基酸总量随成熟时间的延长而逐渐增加,各种氨基酸含量变化的显著性不同;SDS-PAGE电泳图谱显示2种干酪在成熟期内蛋白质都发生了明显的降解,且涂蜡包装的干酪蛋白降解程度较真空包装的深,在成熟45 d后较为明显。     

Effect of high-pressure treatment on microbiology,proteolysis, lipolysis and levels of flavour compounds in mature blue-veined cheese

The effect of high-pressure (HP) treatment (400 MPa, 600 MPa) on ripening of mature 42-day-old Irish blue-veined cheese was studied. Counts of non-starter lactic acid bacteria, lactococci, yeasts, moulds, enterococci and total aerobic bacteria significantly decreased due to HP, with moulds being most sensitive and 600 MPa the most effective treatment. The levels of pH 4.6-soluble nitrogen and (12%) trichloroacetic acid-soluble nitrogen increased immediately after both HP treatments; however, after 28 days of storage, values were lower in HP-treated cheeses than in the control cheese. Urea-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed increased breakdown of β-casein due to HP treatment at both 400 MPa and 600 MPa. Levels of free fatty acids were lower in HP-treated cheese than in the control, but not significantly so, and no significant changes could be observed in the level of flavour compounds of blue-veined cheese. Overall, HP treatment of blue-veined cheese reduced microbiological activity and decelerated proteolysis, with no statistically significant effects on development of flavour compounds.Industrial relevanceHigh-pressure treatment has been studied for the past 100 years; nevertheless, it was not applied in dairy industry, until recently, for a cheese spread. In this study, HP-induced inactivation of microbes and enzymes, which could arrest the ripening of high-quality mature (i.e., ripened) Irish farmhouse blue-veined cheese and thus extend shelf-life at optimal quality, was examined.     

Effect of freeze–dried kefir culture on proteolysis in feta-type and whey-cheeses

The effect of freeze–dried kefir culture on the proteolysis of feta-type and whey-cheese was investigated. All nitrogen fractions increased during ripening. Although no significant differences were observed in total nitrogen (TN), the levels of water-soluble nitrogen (WSN), pH 4.4-soluble nitrogen (SN), 12% trichloroacetic acid-soluble nitrogen (TCA-SN) and phosphotungstic acid-soluble nitrogen (PTA-SN) were significantly higher in cheeses produced by freeze–dried kefir culture during the later stages of ripening. Content of total free amino acids (FAA) was significantly affected by freeze–dried kefir starter culture and it was continuously increased in kefir-cheese while, in rennet-cheese it was increased up to 30 days of ripening and then slightly decreased. On the other hand, FAA content continuously decreased in kefir-whey-cheese whereas it increased in whey-cheese. The cheese samples produced by freeze–dried kefir as starter culture were characterised as high-quality products during the preliminary sensory evaluation and they were accepted by the panel. Overall, the use of freeze–dried kefir suggested acceleration of cheese ripening and resulted in improved sensory characteristics.     

Proteolysis in goat cheese made from raw,pasteurized or pressure-treated milk

Primary and secondary proteolysis of goat cheese made from raw (RA), pasteurized (PA; 72 °C, 15 s) and pressure-treated milk (PR; 500 MPa, 15 min, 20 °C) were examined by capillary electrophoresis, nitrogen fractionation and HPLC peptide profiles. PA milk cheese showed a more important hydrolysis (P<0.05) of α_s1-casein than RA milk cheese at the first stages of ripening (15 days), while PR milk cheese had a level between those seen in PA and RA milk cheeses. Degradation of β-casein was more important (P<0.05) in PA and PR than in RA milk cheeses at 15 days of ripening. However, from thereon β-casein in PR and RA milk cheeses was hydrolyzed at essentially similar rates, but at lower rates (P<0.05) than in PA milk cheeses. Pressure treatment could induce proteolysis of β-casein in a way, which is different from that produced by heat treatment. There was an increase in 4.6-soluble nitrogen (WSN) and in trichloroacetic acid (TCASN) throughout ripening in cheeses, but higher contents (P<0.05) in PA and PR milk cheeses at the end of ripening were observed. PR milk cheeses contained considerably higher content (P<0.05) of free amino acids than RA or PA milk cheeses. In general, heat and pressure treatments had no significant effect on the levels of hydrophobic and hydrophilic peptides.     

Effect of high-pressure treatments on proteolysis and texture of ewes’ raw milk La Serena cheese

La Serena cheeses, made from Merino ewes’ raw milk, were high-pressure (HP)-treated at 300 or 400 MPa for 10 min at 10 °C, on days 2 or 50 of ripening. Cheeses treated by HP on day 2 showed higher pH values than control cheese on day 3, but cheeses treated by HP on days 2 or 50 and control cheese had similar pH values on day 60. Breakdown of caseins was delayed by HP treatment of cheeses on day 2. Cheeses treated by HP on day 2 showed higher levels of hydrophilic peptides, lower levels of hydrophobic peptides, lower hydrophobic peptides: hydrophilic peptides ratios, and higher total contents of free amino acids than those of control cheese. HP treatment of cheese on day 50 scarcely affected proteolysis of 60-day-old cheeses. Fracturability, hardness and elasticity values of cheeses treated by HP on day 2 were higher than those of control cheese and of cheeses treated on day 50. Cheeses treated at 400 MPa on day 2 received the lowest scores for quality of taste from panellists, whereas the rest of HP-treated cheeses did not differ from control cheese.     

Changes in physicochemical and organoleptic properties of traditional Iranian cheese Lighvan during ripening

Lighvan cheese was studied to determine the physicochemical and biochemical changes over 90 days of ripening in brine. Acidity, pH, dry matter, fat values, lipolysis level, water‐soluble nitrogen (WSN), total nitrogen (TN), ripening index (RI), trichloroacetic acid‐soluble nitrogen (TCA‐SN) and organoleptic assessments were analysed. Dry matter and fat values decreased during ripening. Lipolysis level, RI, TCA‐SN values and salt content increased continuously until the end of the ripening period, but total nitrogen decreased throughout a 90‐day storage period. The ripening stage was the main factor affecting the cheese’s sensory properties.     

Residual clotting activity and ripening properties of vegetable rennet from Cynara cardunculus in La Serena cheese

Vegetable rennet extracted from Cynara cardunculus flowers is traditionally used in the manufacture of La Serena cheese. High levels of proteolytic enzymes of the flowers are responsible for its clotting activity and strong proteolytic action. The presence of residual coagulant in cheese and whey was measured by adding known amounts of vegetable rennet as internal standard. We found no differences between the residual coagulant activity of La Serena cheese compared with other types of cheese. The coagulant content detected at the end of four cheesemakings (vat of 830 l) in cheese and whey represented 27 and 78%, respectively, of the total amount added to milk. When measurements were carried out in 16 different cheeses, vegetable rennet appeared to be highly stable during cheese ripening. Cheese composition (moisture, pH, NaCl, fat and protein) was kept relatively constant during ripening, which seems to contribute to stability of residual activity. Electrophoretic analyses of water insoluble fractions from cheeses manufactured with vegetable rennet showed that α_s-casein was less susceptible to proteolysis than β-casein. The water soluble nitrogen/total nitrogen (WSN/TN) exhibited higher levels only during the first 30 days of ripening although non-protein nitrogen/total nitrogen (NPN/TN) ratio and amino acid nitrogen (NH₂-N) increased with ripening time.     

豆奶干酪成熟过程中蛋白水解的研究

本文主要研究了豆奶干酪成熟过程中蛋白水解的变化,并与纯牛乳干酪进行比较。结果表明:豆奶干酪中pH4.6 SN 和12%TCA SN随着时间的延长逐渐增高,而且pH4.6 SN的增长速度比12%TCA SN快,这与纯牛乳干酪是一致的,但豆奶干酪的可溶性氮低于同一时期的纯牛乳干酪。     

凝乳酶对牦牛乳硬质干酪成熟期间蛋白降解的影响

以新鲜牦牛乳为原料,采用小牛皱胃酶、木瓜蛋白酶和微生物凝乳酶制作硬质干酪,探讨凝乳酶种类对牦牛乳硬质干酪成熟期间蛋白质降解的影响。结果表明:三种凝乳酶牦牛乳硬质干酪成熟过程中,不同凝乳酶牦牛乳硬质干酪在成熟期间蛋白质降解能力存在较大差异,总氮（TN）、p H4.6水溶性氮（p H4.6-SN/TN）、12%的三氯乙酸氮（12%TCA-N/TN）、5%磷钨酸氮（5%PTA-N/TN）含量、游离氨基酸均随成熟时间延长不同程度的增加,蛋白氮和酪蛋白氮逐渐降低,多肽氮呈先升高后下降趋势,且微生物凝乳酶降解牦牛乳硬质干酪蛋白能力显著（p<0.05）高于木瓜蛋白酶和小牛皱胃酶。      

干酪介电特性与成熟期及成熟度相关性分析

以半硬质契达干酪为研究对象,对同一加工样品在9℃贮存成熟,分别对成熟期0、15、30、45、60、90、120、150、180 d的干酪样品进行了介电特性和成熟度指标的测定,包括干酪样品总氮(total nitrogen,TN)含量、p H 4.6可溶性氮(soluble nitrogen,SN)含量及三氯乙酸(trichloroacetic acid,TCA)溶液中SN含量的测定。测试频率选定为500、915、1 500、2 000 MHz,对测试结果进行了统计分析,建立了干酪介电特性与成熟度指标之间的相关性。结果表明:随着成熟期的延长,干酪水分含量略有减少、水分活度明显降低、p H值先降低后升高、成熟度指数p H 4.6-SN/TN和12%TCA-SN/TN均随成熟期延长而增大;介电常数ε’在所选的测试频率下与成熟期和成熟度指数的变化均呈线性相关关系;介电损耗因数ε’’在所选测试频率范围内,随成熟期的延长和成熟度的增大呈现总体下降趋势,与成熟期和成熟度在500 MHz和915 MHz频率条件下线性相关性极显著(P0.01),而在高频1 500 MHz和2 000 MHz条件下线性相关性不显著;损耗角正切值变化不明显,表明在测试频率范围介电常数ε’和介电损耗因数ε’’的变化方向一致,同时变化幅度相近。     

Effect of proteolysis and calcium equilibrium on functional properties of natural cheddar cheese during ripening and the resultant processed cheese

The changes in proteolysis, calcium (Ca) equilibrium, and functional properties of natural Cheddar cheeses during ripening and the resultant processed cheeses were investigated. For natural Cheddar cheeses, the majority of the changes in pH 4.6 soluble nitrogen as a percentage of total nitrogen (pH 4.6 SN/TN) and the soluble Ca content occurred in the first 90 d of ripening, and subsequently, the changes were slight. During ripening, functional properties of natural Cheddar cheeses changed, that is, hardness decreased, meltability was improved, storage modulus at 70 °C (G'T=70) decreased, and the maximum tan delta (TDmax) increased. Both pH 4.6 SN/TN and the soluble Ca were correlated with changes in functional properties of natural Cheddar cheeses during ripening. Kendall's partial correlation analysis indicated that pH 4.6 SN/TN was more significantly correlated with changes in hardness and TDmax. For processed cheeses manufactured from natural Cheddar cheeses with different ripening times, the soluble Ca content did not show significant difference, and the trends of changes in hardness, meltability, G'T=70, and TDmax were similar to those of natural Cheddar cheeses. Kendall's partial correlation analysis suggested that only pH 4.6 SN/TN was significantly correlated with the changes in functional properties of processed cheeses.     

The influence of ripening temperature and sampling site on the proteolysis in Reggianito Argentino cheese

The effects of elevated ripening temperature and sampling site on proteolysis in Reggianito Argentino cheese were evaluated. Cheeses ripened at 12 or 18 °C and 85% relative humidity were analysed at 2, 4 and 6 months in 2 sampling zones (central and external). Samples were analysed to determine the physicochemical and proteolysis parameters through the urea-PAGE of the urea-soluble fraction, RP-HPLC analysis of the water-soluble fraction at pH 4.6, and the free amino acid analysis. Proteolysis was significantly affected by ripening temperature and sampling site. Urea-PAGE analysis showed that elevated temperature increased the degradation of α_s1- and β-casein. The degradation of α_s1-casein was larger in the central zone than in the external one, while β-casein degradation was similar in both zones. The majority peaks detected by RP-HPLC of the water-soluble fraction at pH 4.6 and free amino acids were significantly affected by ripening temperature and sampling site. Glu, His, Val, Leu, and Lys had the higher concentrations. Principal component analysis showed useful groupings when results from chromatograms were studied. In conclusion, the results obtained not only are useful to characterise the ripening of an Argentinean hard cheese, but also to evaluate the effect of an increase of ripening temperature on Reggianito Argentino cheese proteolysis.     

Ripening time estimation of Kariesh cheese

Kariesh cheese is a popular cheese in Egypt produced by acid coagulation of milk. It can be consumed fresh or after ripening. Proteolysis in cheese was measured by determining soluble nitrogen (SN), amino acid nitrogen (AAN), total amino acids (TAA) and free amino acids (FAA). SN, AAN and FAA increased during ripening. Free amino acids profile revealed in total 16 amino acids and the same distribution of free amino acids. Cheese ripening was influenced by the type of milk and the method of production. The mildly acid sweet flavour was attributed to the concentration of glutamic acid, aspartic acid, proline and valine. Linear regression analysis was carried out to estimate the ripening time of this cheese. A positive correlation between the accumulation of amino acid and ripening time was established. The highest coefficient of determination near one resulted from glutamic acid (R² = 0.99) followed by lysine (R² = 0.97–0.99), then aspartic acid (0.90–0.98). From the linear regression equation for glutamic acid, lysine, aspartic acid or proline, the ripening time of Kariesh cheese in weeks was determined as follows: Time of ripening [weeks] = mg amino acid 100 g cheese-a/b where b = slope and a = intercept of regression straight line at 0 time.     

Manufacture of Cheddar cheese from high-pressure-treated whole milk

The cheese-making characteristics of high-pressure (HP)-treated milk were examined. The rennet coagulation time of pasteurised milk decreased after HP treatment at 400 MPa but increased after treatment at 600 MPa. The L-value (whiteness) of milk decreased directly after HP treatment but, over the course of coagulation, whiteness of HP-treated milk increased to the same level as in the control. Cheddar cheese was then manufactured from raw whole milk or whole milk treated by high-pressure (HP) at 400 MPa (HP400) or 600 MPa (HP600) for 10 min at 20 °C. HP treatment of raw milk at 600 MPa resulted in a 3.66 log reduction in the initial counts of non-starter lactic acid bacteria (NSLAB), decreased protein and fat content, as well as a lower pH compared to the control. Furthermore, higher treatment pressures resulted in increased incorporation of β-lactoglobulin into the cheese curd, with parallel increases in yield by 1.23% and 7.78% for HP400 and HP600 cheeses, respectively. Overall, this study showed that the effects of HP treatment on milk proteins increased rennet coagulation times and changes in cheese composition at day 1.Industrial relevanceHigh-pressure treatment is a novel technology which has been applied to a number of commercial food products. In this study, HP-induced changes in milk proteins resulted in increased cheese yields and increased cheese whiteness. In addition, HP treatment significantly reduced the microflora of raw milk cheese. Those attributes could be of interest for both industry and consumer.     

快速成熟契达干酪成熟期间的理化特性变化

对天然契达(Cheddar)干酪快速成熟期间理化特性进行了研究,结果表明,在21 d内,pH值呈下降趋势(P<0.05),在21 d到35 d的成熟中,pH值缓慢增加(P>0.05);Cheddar干酪快速成熟过程中由于蛋白酶和脂肪酶的作用使蛋白发生水解,pH值为4.6醋酸溶液—水溶性氮质量分数、质量分数为12%的三氯乙酸—可溶性氮和游离氨基酸(FAA)的质量分数都呈明显增加趋势(P<0.05);成熟过程中TPA各项指标均有不同程度的变化,硬度和凝聚性呈先下降后增加的趋势,弹性和咀嚼性呈先上升后下降的趋势。     

高压处理的霉菌干酪的蛋白水解

对自制的白霉干酪采用高压处理工艺,分析其蛋白水解的情况,并与未经高压处理干酪进行比较。通过测定2种干酪表面和内部的pH4.6-SN(%TN)、12%TCA-SN(%TN)和FAA(mg/g干酪)评价蛋白水解程度,结果表明:高压处理使pH4.6-SN、12%TCA-SN增加,对FAA无影响;高压处理使pH值升高,影响部分微生物酶的活力;高压处理能降低疏水作用,使酶更容易作用于暴露的敏感键。     

Amino acid and soluble nitrogen evolution throughout ripening of Serra da Estrela cheese

Four batches of Serra da Estrela cheese originating from as many dairy farms were sampled throughout the ripening period, and assayed for the evolution of free amino acid (FAA) content, total nitrogen content (TN), water-soluble nitrogen content (WSN), trichloroacetic acid-soluble nitrogen content (TCASN) and phosphotungstic acid-soluble nitrogen content (PTASN). The WSN content increased from 1% (on the day of manufacture) up to 43% of TN by 180 d of ripening, thus reflecting the intense proteolytic activity of the enzymes contributed by the plant coagulant utilized. The TCASN was also found to be high in this cheese by the end of ripening (16–20%), which suggests a high extent of FAA release throughout maturation. The major FAA by 180 d of ripening were Glu, Val, Leu and Lys, representing 56–70% of the total in all four dairies sampled. Cheeses produced from refrigerated milk possessed higher amounts of γ-amino-n-butyric acid (Gaba) and lower amounts of Glu when compared with those manufactured with non-refrigerated milk.