Starters and Bacteriophages in Lactic Acid Casein Manufacture

Abstract

A controlled starter system was used for the first time in commercial lactic acid casein manufacture in New Zealand. Multiple starters of up to four components were constructed from 18 recently derived Streptococcus cremoris isolates which were not lysed by any of the phages in the collection of the New Zealand Dairy Research Institute. During the first season of casein manufacture, phages attacking 17 isolates were detected in the casein whey. Of these, 12 prevented adequate acid production by the appropriate host even at levels below 1 phage per 10 to 1000 ml in the milk before starter addition. In contrast, the first detected phages attacking the other five isolates did not significantly influence the rate of acid development; use of these starters continued until phages which eliminated acid production appeared. An alternative starter system based on the continuous selection of “phage-tolerant” cultures was investigated. Regular addition of whey, from previous manufacture, to the individual mother cultures of each component permitted long-term use of the multiple starter. This procedure of continued selection for phage-tolerant organisms has been used successfully for a complete season in a major casein factory.