Development of biotechnology for cheese having a noble mould: A relationship between biochemical processes and product quality

Since late 2014, following the embargo, a significant reduction in cheese import, including mould cheese, has been observed. Developing new cheese technologies comprise therefore an urgent task for the milk industry. The cheeses ripened using noble mould represent a wholesome product, rich in protein, which contains many essential amino acids, beneficial for strengthening the walls of blood vessels and reducing angiasthenia. The microorganisms in the cheese starter culture create favourable conditions for healthy microflora in the gastrointestinal tract, preventing fermentation and meteorism. The high content of vitamin B12 in these cheeses has a positive effect on the central nervous system. Any production must be economically viable, lowering the production costs. In order to increase income, and consequently the profitability of production, the method of cheese ripening using a noble mould, obtained from a mixture of whole milk and secondary protein-carbohydrate raw materials, was proposed. The influence of the type of protein-carbohydrate raw material, yeast and mould on the physicochemical and organoleptic properties of the product was investigated. The optimal ratio of raw materials (milk:buttermilk) for cheese production was determined. The relative composition of nitrogen fractions and the presence and amount of volatile fatty acids in the proposed product were also examined. It was shown that proteolysis and lipolysis processes were more intensive in the experimental cheeses produced using a noble mould, resulting in the improvement of organoleptic characteristics of the finished product. The resulting soft cheese having unique characteristics and a tangy mushroom flavour can be recommended for production in cheese factories.

noble mould, soft cheese, proteolysis, lipolysis, water-soluble fatty acids, nitrogen fractions, organoleptic evaluation of cheese