This study aimed to implement a microencapsulated form of selected autochthonous lactic-acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from the cheese-production chain and natural rennet obtained from suckling lambs ...in the traditional production of hard sheep cheese, “Paški sir”, from the island of Pag, Croatia. Two different formulations of microparticles were prepared: (i) microparticles containing the strain of both Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Lactococcus lactis (S2) and (ii) microparticles containing both strains and natural rennet (S3). These formulations were used in the production of Paški sir cheese simultaneously with standard production using non-encapsulated commercial starter cultures and commercial rennet (S1). The number of Lc. lactis isolates decreased at day 30 and were not isolated during the remaining ripening process, whereas the number of L. plantarum remained stable throughout the ripening process. The level of LAB and the release of the rennet from microsphere formulations at the end allowed for the production of cheese with the same characteristics as the commercial product, indicating no negative interactions of natural rennet, bacterial culture, and chemical components of microparticles. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a microencapsulated L. plantarum (isolated from the abomasum of lambs) coupled with natural lamb’s rennet used in the production of hard sheep cheese. This pilot study showed the great potential for maintaining authenticity in cheese production by combining traditional and sustainable innovative technologies.
One of the salting methods in cheese production implies salting the milk before coagulation used in making Domiati-type cheeses and a variety of autochthonous "Lički Škripavac" cheese. The most used ...sodium replacer is potassium. This study investigated the influence of different added salt concentrations (1%, 1.5%, and 2%) and NaCl to KCl ratios (100%, 50:50%, 25:75%) on the rennet coagulation and curd firmness in bovine milk. The milk coagulation parameters were determined with a computerized renneting meter, Lactodinamograph. The results showed significant interactions between the salt concentrations and NaCl to KCl ratios (
< 0.0001, α = 0.05) by prolonging the beginning of coagulation (10-20 min) and curd firming rate (1-5 min) by an increase in salt concentration for all treatments. The 50:50 treatment values (RCT, k
, a
, a
, a
) were closest to the control (without salt) and had the best results among all treatments in the lower (1%) and medium (1.5%) salt concentration (
> 0.0001, α = 0.05) while in the highest salt concentration (2%) the treatment effect was nonsignificant (
> 0.05). These results should help future studies make a lower sodium product appealing to consumers without losing quality.
The beneficial health effects of cheese as a source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and analgesic effects are well known. The aim of this ...study is to determine the presence of pesticide residues and heavy metals in 79 cheese samples from small farms in Croatia. The samples were analyzed over a period of three years for the quality parameters of fat, protein, dry matter, salt, and pH to determine whether metrological conditions affect the quality of cheese and to test the correlation between the variables in different types of cheese. A total of 509 pesticide residues were analyzed using liquid and gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Piperonyl butoxide was found in two samples. Inductively coupled plasma with mass spectrometry was used for a metal content analysis, and Cd, Cr, Mn, Ni, and Pb were found in the range of <0.005–0.012 mg kg−1, <0.02–0.84 mg kg−1, 0.031–1.128 mg kg−1, <0.03–0.67 mg kg−1, and <0.01–0.12 mg kg−1, respectively. Cd was detected in just three samples. Mn was found in all analyzed samples. All tested samples complied with EU regulations and directives, and at the point of analysis, none posed a direct health risk for consumers. Sustainability on small farms could be ensured with the responsible use of pesticides and through a consistent and reliable supply of fresh, high-quality milk.
Cheese is one of the most popular dairy products, with an incredible diversity of varieties, shapes, textures, and flavours available locally and globally. Extensive research has been conducted on ...the aroma compounds present in cheese. Numerous studies have identified over 3000 volatile and non-volatile components in cheese. The volatile components, which consist of fatty acids, alcohols, aldehydes, esters, ketones, lactones, sulphur compounds, amines, and other flavour-active compounds, are primarily responsible for the aromatic characteristics (aroma) of cheese. This paper thoroughly discusses the biochemistry behind the formation of significant aroma compounds that affect overall cheese quality and sensory characteristics. It provides an extensive review of the most recent methodologies for the extraction and determination of aroma compounds in cheese.
The number of aerobic mesophilic bacteria in milk is one of the indicators of the hygienic quality of milk. The aim of this work was to determine such aerobic mesophilic bacteria and their number in ...raw unpreserved milk and milk preserved with sodium azide. In 40 collected samples, the total number of aerobic mesophilic bacteria was determined using the classical method of counting colonies on a nutrient medium according to the international standard HRN EN ISO 4833-1:2013. The results showed a trend of decreasing the number of grown colonies in milk preserved with sodium azide. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry also successfully identified 392 bacterial colonies in raw unpreserved milk samples and 330 colonies in preserved milk samples. Of these, 30 genera and 54 bacterial species were identified in the raw unpreserved milk samples, while 27 genera and 41 bacterial species were identified in the preserved samples. By using a collective approach, the present study provided a more detailed insight into milk’s hygienic quality and the presence of certain species before and after the preservation with sodium azide.
It is well known that cheese yield and quality are affected by animal genetics, milk quality (chemical, physical, and microbiological), production technology, and the type of rennet and dairy ...cultures used in production. Major differences in the same type of cheese (i.e., hard cheese) are caused by the rennet and dairy cultures, which affect the ripening process. This review aims to explore current technological advancements in animal genetics, methods for the isolation and production of rennet and dairy cultures, along with possible applications of microencapsulation in rennet and dairy culture production, as well as the challenge posed to current dairy technologies by the preservation of biodiversity. Based on the reviewed scientific literature, it can be concluded that innovative approaches and the described techniques can significantly improve cheese production.
The aim of this research was to determine the influence of the type of clotting agent on the physical and chemical parameters, as well as on the sensory quality of the Pag Island cheese, which was ...manufactured with the home-made (traditional) and the commercial rennet. Pag Island cheeses were produced with the home-made rennet obtained by extracting the enzyme from lamb rennet (abomasum), and with the commercially available powdered rennet obtained from the Italian manufacturer “Gruppo Clerici-Sacco”. The production included 7 batches of cheese, with two cheeses in each batch. During 120 days of ripening, the cheeses were periodically sampled after 0, 45, 90 and 120 days, in order to determine the content of dry matter, milk fat, proteins, salt concentration and the pH value of cheese. Also, the content of the total free amino acids from water extracts was determined and the analysis of proteins and polypeptides was conducted by urea polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (UREA-PAGE). The research did not show a significant (P>0.05) influence of the type of tested rennet on the observed parameters of cheese quality and on its yield. However, this research determined practical significance of the home-made rennet on the higher yield and shorter ripening time in the production of Pag Island cheese.
This study aimed to implement a microencapsulated form of selected autochthonous lactic-acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from the cheese-production chain and natural rennet obtained from suckling lambs ...in the traditional production of hard sheep cheese, “Paški sir”, from the island of Pag, Croatia. Two different formulations of microparticles were prepared: (i) microparticles containing the strain of both Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Lactococcus lactis (S2) and (ii) microparticles containing both strains and natural rennet (S3). These formulations were used in the production of Paški sir cheese simultaneously with standard production using non-encapsulated commercial starter cultures and commercial rennet (S1). The number of Lc. lactis isolates decreased at day 30 and were not isolated during the remaining ripening process, whereas the number of L. plantarum remained stable throughout the ripening process. The level of LAB and the release of the rennet from microsphere formulations at the end allowed for the production of cheese with the same characteristics as the commercial product, indicating no negative interactions of natural rennet, bacterial culture, and chemical components of microparticles. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a microencapsulated L. plantarum (isolated from the abomasum of lambs) coupled with natural lamb’s rennet used in the production of hard sheep cheese. This pilot study showed the great potential for maintaining authenticity in cheese production by combining traditional and sustainable innovative technologies.
Cilj istraživanja bio je utvrditi utjecaj vrste sirila na fizikalno-kemijske parametre, senzorsku kvalitetu i randman paškog sira, proizvedenog s domaćim (tradicionalnim) i komercijalnim sirilom. ...Paški sirevi proizvedeni su s domaćim sirilom, ekstrakcijom enzima iz janjećeg sirišta (abomasum), i s komercijalnim sirilom u prahu talijanskog proizvođača “Gruppo Clerici-Sacco”. Ukupno je proizvedeno 7 šarži sira, po dva sira unutar svake šarže. Tijekom 120 dana zrenja, sirevi su periodično uzorkovani 0., 45., 90. i 120. dana, u svrhu određivanja udjela suhe tvari, mliječne masti, proteina, koncentracije soli te pH vrijednosti sira. Također, određen je udio ukupnih slobodnih aminokiselina iz vodenih ekstrakata sira te je provedena analiza proteina i polipeptida gel-elektroforezom u poliakrilamidnom gelu (UREA-PAGE). Istraživanjem nije utvrđen značajan (P>0,05) utjecaj vrste ispitivanog sirila na istraživane parametre kvalitete sira te na randman. Predmetnim istraživanjem nije utvrđen značajan utjecaj na ispitivane fizikalno-kemijske parametre, randman te senzorsku kvalitetu paškog sira, ali su dobiveni rezultati pokazali praktične razlike koje bi mogle imati važnost u primjeni, pogotovo u postizanju boljeg randmana i veće brzine zrenja sira.
Sir je jedan od najznačajnijih mliječnih proizvoda s velikom raznolikošću vrsta, oblika, teksture, okusa i arome dostupnih lokalno i globalno. Provedene su brojne studije o spojevima koji sudjeluju u ...formiranju arome i okusa te je identificirano više od 3000 hlapljivih i nehlapljivih spojeva u siru. Hlapljive komponente koje se sastoje od masnih kiselina, alkohola, aldehida, estera, ketona, laktona, sumpornih spojeva, amina i drugih aktivnih tvari zaslužne su za stvaranje aromatskih karakteristika u siru. U radu su detaljno objašnjeni biokemijski procesi tijekom formiranja značajnih aromatskih spojeva koji utječu na ukupnu kvalitetu i senzorne karakteristike sira te je pružen pregled najnovijih metodologija za ekstrakciju i određivanje hlapljivih spojeva u siru.
