Oxidative status of Kefalotyri cheese during aerobic storage in the dark or under fluorescent light

Abstract

Kefalotyri cheese made in December and April using milk from sheep grazing on pastures was aerobically kept, in the dark or under fluorescent light, for 40 days at 4°C. Unsaturated fatty acids, which were higher in April than in December cheese, were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in all cheese samples under both storage conditions. According to lipid hydroperoxides, malondialdehyde and carbonyls changes, grated cheese samples stored under fluorescent light showed a higher protein and lipid oxidation as compared to samples stored in the dark. Sensory and colour characteristics were better for cheeses stored in the dark than those under fluorescent light.