Gouda Cheese Research Articles

Interactions among key aroma compounds and the influence of taste substances on aroma perception in Gouda cheese

The compounds 2,3-diacetyl, acetoin, hexanoic acid, and isobutyric acid are key aroma contributors significantly affecting consumer preference for Gouda cheese. However, the interaction mechanisms among these aroma compounds and the influence of taste substances on their perception remain unclear. In this study, the olfactory thresholds of these aroma compounds were first determined using systematic analysis based on flavoromics. The interactions between these key aroma compounds and the effects of taste substances on their perception in Gouda cheese were then investigated using S-curve, σ-τ plot, and aroma intensity methods. The thresholds for 2,3-diacetyl, acetoin, hexanoic acid, and isobutyric acid were found to be 0.203 mg/kg, 1.046 mg/kg, 0.673 mg/kg, and 2.710 mg/kg, respectively, in a simulated Gouda cheese matrix. Interaction studies revealed synergistic effects between 2,3-diacetyl and acetoin, as well as between hexanoic acid and isobutyric acid. Additionally, the aroma-taste sensory interaction study indicated that the enhancement of 2,3-diacetyl and acetoin aromas was most pronounced at sodium chloride concentrations of 0.95 g/100 g or 1.50 g/100 g and sucrose concentrations of 10.00 g/100 g or 15.85 g/100 g in the Gouda cheese matrix. These findings provide theoretical support and practical references for improving the aroma quality of Gouda cheese.

Influence of Different Packaging Materials on the Composition of the Headspace of Rennet Cheeses under Different Modified Atmosphere Conditions.

The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of different packaging materials on the composition of the headspace (CO2 and O2) of rennet cheeses packed in unit packaging under different modified atmosphere (MAP) conditions during a storage period of 90 days at 2 °C and 8 °C. The packaging materials comprised different combinations of BOPP-biaxially oriented polypropylene; PET-polyester; PE-polyethylene; PP-polypropylene; EVOH-ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer; PET-polyethylene terephthalate; and PA-polyamide. As the properties of the packaging material (foil) affect the gas conditions inside the packaging, it is important to study whether the modifications, i.e., properties and thickness, of the foils will result in significant differences in the composition of the headspace of packed cheeses. The CO2 content in the headspace of Gouda cheese packages ranged from 35% to 45%, while for Maasdamer and Sielski Klasyczny cheese, it varied between 55% and 65%. Throughout the storage period, the O2 content in the headspace of cheeses packaged in tested foils (1-5) did not exceed 0.5%. The type of foil used did not influence the modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) conditions.

The Study of Combination of Biodegradable Packaging and Biocoating with Lactic Acid Bacteria as a Green Alternative for Traditional Packaging in Gouda Cheese

Biodegradable packaging, both alone and in combination with acid whey protein coatings, has been used to pack fresh Gouda cheese to improve preservation prior ripening or storage. This study involved three key components: (i) the selection of biodegradable packaging (BP), (ii) the development of a plain liquid acid whey protein concentrate, pectin-based edible coating (BP + Ch + Coating), and (iii) the incorporation of at least 6 log10 CFU (colony forming units) mL−1 Lacticaseibacillus paracasei (BP + Ch + Coating + Lp) and Lactobacillus helveticus (BP + Ch + Coating + Lh) strains. The created compositions were compared with cheese packed in conventional polyethylene (PE) packaging to evaluate their overall synergy effect in reducing microbiological spoilage and influencing chemical parameters in Gouda cheese during 45 days of ripening and cold storage. The evaluation included microbiological analysis (total LAB, Enterobacteriaceae spp., and fungi CFU) and quality assessment of pH, moisture content, water activity, texture, and colour (CEI system) during ripening and shelf life. Although biodegradable packaging (BP) alone did not protect the cheese effectively compared to conventional packaging (EVA/PE/EPC/PVDC), the combination of biodegradable packaging with a coating (BP + Ch + Coating) showed protective properties against Enterobacteriaceae spp. and mould, maintaining moisture, pH, and colour during ripening and storage. Incorporation of L. helveticus (BP + Ch + Coating + Lh) into the coating efficiently decreased the growth of fungi.

Influence of calcium sequestering salt type and concentration on the characteristics of processed cheese made from Gouda cheese of different ages

The effect of 90, 180 and 270 mEq/kg of the calcium sequestering salts (CSS) disodium phosphate (DSP), trisodium citrate (TSC) and sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) on the solubilisation of proteins and minerals and the rheological and textural properties of processed cheese (PC) prepared from Gouda cheese ripened for 30–150 d at 8°C was studied. The solubilisation of individual caseins and Ca and the maximum loss tangent during temperature sweeps of PC made from Gouda cheese increased, while hardness of PC decreased with ripening duration of the Gouda cheese. Levels of soluble Ca in PC increased with increasing concentration of TSC and SHMP, but decreased with increasing concentration of DSP. The solubilisation of casein and Ca due to ripening of Gouda cheese used for manufacturing PC could explain the changes in texture and loss tangent of PC. The results suggest that DSP, TSC or SHMP in PC formulation can form insoluble Ca-phosphate, soluble Ca-citrate or insoluble casein-Ca-HMP complexes, respectively, that influence casein solubilisation differently and together with levels of residual intact casein determine the functional attributes of PC.

Influence of Milk Pasteurization on the Key Aroma Compounds in a 30 Weeks Ripened Pilot-Scale Gouda Cheese Elucidated by the Sensomics Approach.

Gouda cheese was produced from pasteurized milk and ripened for 30 weeks (PM-G). By application of gas chromatography/olfactometry and an aroma extract dilution analysis on the volatiles isolated by extraction/SAFE distillation, 25 odor-active compounds in the flavor dilution (FD) factor range from 16 to 4096 were identified. Butanoic acid, 2- and 3-methylbutanoic acid, and acetic acid showed the highest FD factors, and 2-phenylethanol, δ-decalactone, and δ-dodecalactone were most odor-active in the neutral-basic fraction. Quantitations by stable isotope dilution assays followed by a calculation of odor activity values (OAVs) revealed acetic acid, 3-methylbutanoic acid, butanoic acid, and butane-2,3-dione with the highest OAVs. Finally, an aroma recombinate prepared based on the quantitative data well agreed with the aroma profile of the PM-G. In Gouda cheese produced from raw (nonpasteurized) milk (RM-G), qualitatively the same set of odor-active compounds was identified. However, higher OAVs of butanoic acid, hexanoic acid, and their corresponding ethyl esters were found. On the other hand, in the PM-G, higher OAVs for 3-methylbutanoic acid, 3-methylbutanol, 3-methylbutanal, and butane-2,3-dione were determined. The different rankings of these key aroma compounds clearly reflect the aroma differences of the two Gouda-type cheeses. A higher activity of lipase in the RM-G and higher amounts of free l-leucine in PM-G on the other side were responsible for the differences in the concentrations of some key aroma compounds.

Fatty acid composition of hard rent cheese with flax seeds

The study demonstrates the peculiarities of the fatty acid composition of Gouda-type hard rennet cheese by adding 5 % flax seeds. The fatty acid profile of complex cheese samples of control and experimental samples was investigated by gas-liquid chromatography 60 days after production. The experimental part of the work was carried out in the research laboratory “Technology, analysis and examination of food products and water” of the Department of Food Biotechnology and Chemistry at the Ternopil National Technical University named after I. Puluj and at the Chortkiv cheese factory. In the process of making Gouda-type cheese, prepared flax seeds, according to our patented method, were added to the cheese grain after being separated from the whey. Positive advantages were established in the fatty acid profile of the test sample compared to the control sample. In particular, it was found that the total content of saturated fatty acids in the control sample was 68.6 %, and in Gouda cheese with 5 % flax seeds (experimental sample) – 62.3 %, while the content of unsaturated fatty acids was 31.4 %, respectively and 37.7 %. The experimental sample also showed an increase in the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids of the omega-3 family, in particular α-linolenic acid, by 40 % compared to the control sample. In the experimental sample of Gouda cheese with flax seeds, an improvement in the ratio between the relative content of PUFAs of the ω-3/ω-6/ω-9 families was established, which was 1 : 1.8 : 7.4. The obtained results in changing the fatty acid composition of the experimental sample of cheese allow us to recommend this product as a functional product due to the high content of PUFAs of the ω-3 family and the balanced ratio between the content of PUFAs of the ω-3/ω-6/ω-9 families.

Bacterial proteome adaptation during fermentation in dairy environments

The enzymatic repertoire of starter cultures belonging to the Lactococcus genus determines various important characteristics of fermented dairy products but might change in response to the substantial environmental changes in the manufacturing process. Assessing bacterial proteome adaptation in dairy and other food environments is challenging due to the high matrix-protein concentration and is even further complicated in particularly cheese by the high fat concentrations, the semi-solid state of that matrix, and the non-growing state of the bacteria. Here, we present bacterial harvesting and processing procedures that enable reproducible, high-resolution proteome determination in lactococcal cultures harvested from laboratory media, milk, and miniature Gouda cheese. Comparative proteome analysis of Lactococcus cremoris NCDO712 grown in laboratory medium and milk revealed proteome adaptations that predominantly reflect the differential (micro-)nutrient availability in these two environments. Additionally, the drastic environmental changes during cheese manufacturing only elicited subtle changes in the L. cremoris NCDO712 proteome, including modified expression levels of enzymes involved in flavour formation. The technical advances we describe offer novel opportunities to evaluate bacterial proteomes in relation to their performance in complex, protein- and/or fat-rich food matrices and highlight the potential of steering starter culture performance by preculture condition adjustments.

Bioprotective lactobacilli in Crescenza and Gouda cheese models to inhibit fungal spoilage

Bioprotective cultures are applied to control the fungal spoilage of fermented dairy products but only few studies evaluated their efficacy in cheese. To evaluate growth and antifungal activity of bioprotective lactobacilli, cultures were used singly and combined adjunct cultures for laboratory-scale Crescenza cheese, a fresh cheese, and for pilot-scale Gouda cheese, respectively. Growth of the bioprotective cultures was characterized by surface plating, strain-specific qPCR and nanopore sequencing of full-length 16S rRNA genes. Analysis of Crescenza cheese by viable plate counts documented growth over 14 d of storage. In Gouda cheese, strain-specific qPCR demonstrated the growth of the lactobacilli during the first 45 d of ripening. Metagenomic sequencing demonstrated that the microbial community of Gouda cheeses was dominated by the starter and adjunct cultures with the relative abundance of other bacteria accounting for less than 0.5%. Adjunct cultures inhibited Penicillium caseifulvum and Penicillium roqueforti in Crescenza cheese; Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus FUA3185 and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei FUA3413 extended the mold-free days almost 1.5-fold. Growth of yeasts was not inhibited. In Gouda cheese, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum FUA3183 and FUA3247 reduced the growth of Debaryomyces hansenii FUA4064 by 1.5 log and extended the mold-free shelf life for 3 d in 45 d-ripened cheese. Longer ripening time decreased the antifungal activity and the culture was no longer active towards yeasts. The abundance of Mn2+ in the curds of Crescenza cheese (0.2–0.4 mg kg−1 FW) was not altered by bioprotective cultures. The antifungal effect of Lct. rhamnosus, Lct. paracasei and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum thus depends on the type of cheese.

Decarboxylase activity of the non-starter lactic acid bacterium Loigolactobacillus rennini gives crack defects in Gouda cheese through the production of γ-aminobutyric acid.

Ten Gouda cheese wheels with an age of 31 weeks from six different batch productions were affected by a crack defect and displayed an unpleasant off-flavor. To unravel the causes of these defects, the concentrations of free amino acids, other organic acids, volatile organic compounds, and biogenic amines were quantified in zones around the cracks and in zones without cracks, and compared with those of similar Gouda cheeses without crack defect. The Gouda cheeses with cracks had a significantly different metabolome. The production of the non-proteinogenic amino acid γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) could be unraveled as the key mechanism leading to crack formation, although the production of the biogenic amines cadaverine and putrescine contributed as well. High-throughput amplicon sequencing of the full-length 16S rRNA gene based on whole-community DNA revealed the presence of Loigolactobacillus rennini and Tetragenococcus halophilus as most abundant non-starter lactic acid bacteria in the zones with cracks. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing allowed to obtain a metagenome-assembled genome of both Loil. rennini and T. halophilus. However, only Loil. rennini contained genes necessary for the production of GABA, cadaverine, and putrescine. Metagenetics further revealed the brine and the rennet used during cheese manufacturing as the most plausible inoculation sources of both Loil. rennini and T. halophilus.IMPORTANCECrack defects in Gouda cheeses are still poorly understood, although they can lead to major economic losses in cheese companies. In this study, the bacterial cause of a crack defect in Gouda cheeses was identified, and the pathways involved in the crack formation were unraveled. Moreover, possible contamination sources were identified. The brine bath might be a major source of bacteria with the potential to deteriorate cheese quality, which suggests that cheese producers should regularly investigate the quality and microbial composition of their brines. This study illustrated how a multiphasic approach can understand and mitigate problems in a cheese company.

Effects of different foods and cooking methods on the gut microbiota: an in vitro approach.

To support personalized diets targeting the gut microbiota, we employed an in vitro digestion-fermentation model and 16S rRNA gene sequencing to analyze the microbiota growing on representative foods of the Mediterranean and Western diets, as well as the influence of cooking methods. Plant- and animal-derived foods had significantly different impacts on the abundances of bacterial taxa. Animal and vegetable fats, fish and dairy products led to increases in many taxa, mainly within the Lachnospiraceae. In particular, fats favored increases in the beneficial bacteria Faecalibacterium, Blautia, and Roseburia. However, butter, as well as gouda cheese and fish, also resulted in the increase of Lachnoclostridium, associated to several diseases. Frying and boiling produced the most distinct effects on the microbiota, with members of the Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae responding the most to the cooking method employed. Nevertheless, cooking effects were highly individualized and food-dependent, challenging the investigation of their role in personalized diets.

The microbial and metabolite composition of Gouda cheese made from pasteurized milk is determined by the processing chain

Gouda cheeses of different production batches and ripening times often differ in metabolite composition, which may be due to the starter culture mixture applied or the growth of non-starter lactic acid bacteria (NSLAB) upon maturation. Therefore, a single Gouda cheese production batch was systematically investigated from the thermized milk to the mature cheeses, ripened for up to 100 weeks, to identify the main bacterial species and metabolites and their dynamics during the whole production and ripening. As this seemed to be starter culture strain- and NSLAB-dependent, it requested a detailed, longitudinal, and quantitative investigation. Hereto, microbial colony enumeration, high-throughput full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and a metabolomic approach were combined. Culture-dependently, Lactococcus lactis was the most abundant species from its addition as part of the starter culture up to the first two months of cheese ripening. Afterward, the NSLAB Lacticaseibacillus paracasei became the main species during ripening. The milk was a possible inoculation source for the latter species, despite pasteurization. Culture-independently, the starter LAB Lactococcus cremoris and Lc. lactis were the most abundant species in the cheese core throughout the whole fermentation and ripening phases up to 100 weeks. The cheese rind from 40 until 100 weeks of ripening was characterized by a high relative abundance of the NSLAB Tetragenococcus halophilus and Loigolactobacillus rennini, which both came from the brine. These species were linked with the production of the biogenic amines cadaverine and putrescine. The most abundant volatile organic compound was acetoin, an indicator of citrate and lactose fermentation during the production day, whereas the concentrations of free amino acids were an indicator of the ripening time.

Determining the influence of raw milk protein composition on the yield of cheese and its nutrient content

Cheese production is a complex process that is influenced by many factors: protein:fat ratio, acidity, and type of rennet. An option for improving the profitability of the cheese industry is the genetic selection of dairy cows to produce milk with good rennet protein coagulation. The object of the study is the technology of cheeses made from milk from cows with different β-casein genotypes (А1А1, А1А2, А2А2). The subject of the study is the physical-chemical parameters of milk from cows with different genotypes for β-casein; yield of cheese from this milk and its quality indicators. Samples of Gouda cheese were produced according to traditional technology. The research established that the quality indicators of milk samples are typical for fresh cow's milk. The content of fat, protein, and dry matter in the milk of cows with the β-casein genotype A2A2 were slightly higher compared to A1A1 and A1A2. The study of the quality indicators of the cheese samples showed that the type of β-casein did not affect the organoleptic properties of the cheese. However, according to the content of the main chemical components, cheeses made from A1A2 milk had a higher content of dry matter and protein (61,6 % and 19,2 % on average, respectively) and a lower fat content (37.2 %). The amino acid profile of cheese from milk of cows with β-casein A1A2 and A2A2 genotypes showed a higher total content of amino acids – 14.89 mg/g and 13.84 mg/g, respectively. Calculations of cheese yield showed that cheese yield from milk of cows with β-casein genotype A1A2 was higher (mean value 13.1 %) than with A1A1 and A2A2. The obtained results are of practical importance, as it is possible to take into account how changes in the β-casein genotype in milk can affect the yield of cheese, and therefore, the profitability of production

Spore-forming probiotics Weizmannia coagulans isolated from human breast milk improves on the flavor development using micro-cheese platform

Weizmannia coagulans (formerly Bacillus coagulans) is a gram-positive bacterium forming spores and producing lactic acid, employing spore formation as a survival strategy within the host's intestinal and functioning as a probiotic. Therefore, we evaluated the probiotic functionalities of W. coagulans SRCM121381 and SRCM214335, isolated from human breast milk. Both strains demonstrated a remarkable tolerance capacity to acid and bile, and heat resistance. Moreover, we performed on Fermenter for Intestine Microbiome Model (FIMM) to evaluate the effects of these strains on the in vitro gut microbial fermentation based on a metagenomic approach. The FIMM analysis demonstrated that the addition of two W. coagulans strains significantly increased the population of beneficial bacteria, including Bifidobacterium and Blautia. Furthermore, to investigate the potential of two strains in the dairy food industry, we inoculated them into the production of Gouda cheese with a micro-cheese platform. These strains exhibited an enhancement of acid group flavors, accompanied by a reduction of undesirable flavors, such as bitterness, alcohol notes, and alkane group flavors. These results indicated that W. coagulans strains could accelerate cheese maturation and be used as an adjunct starter to facilitate flavor development in dairy products. Collectively, we proposed that the probiotic functionality of W. coagulans SRCM121381 and SRCM 214335 could influence intestinal microbial modulation by the increment of beneficial bacterial populations. And, demonstrated that these strains could applicate as adjunct starters in Gouda cheese production, leading to improved flavor profiles. These findings deepen our understanding of W. coagulans as potential probiotic bacteria in the dairy food industry.

Aroma-sensory properties of Gouda cheeses based on young Chinese consumers' preferences

The objective of this study was to examine the aroma profiles of 12 Gouda cheeses sold in China and to determine which aromas were preferred by young Chinese consumers (n = 110). The consumers selected 11 descriptors of the aromas of the Gouda cheeses in a check-all-that-apply questionnaire. These 11 descriptors were used by a panel of experts for sensory analysis to perform a quantitative descriptive analysis of the cheeses. A principal component analysis of the data from the quantitative descriptive analysis revealed that the characteristic aromas of young Gouda cheeses, medium-aged Gouda cheeses, and aged Gouda cheeses were "milky" and "whey"; "creamy" and "sour"; and "rancid" and "nutty," respectively. The results of a penalty analysis combined with the check-all-that-apply results and the preference scores showed that the 3 groups of young Chinese consumers (those who often ate cheese, occasionally ate cheese, and never ate cheese) preferred the Gouda cheeses with "milky" or "creamy" aromas and did not enjoy those with "sour" or "rancid" aromas. Occasional cheese eaters comprised the majority of the young Chinese consumers, and they were more tolerant of the Gouda cheeses with "whey" and "sulfury" aromas than those who often or never ate cheese. In addition, we identified a positive correlation between the consumers' preferences for the aromas of the Gouda cheeses and their willingness to pay for them. Overall, the results of this study should help promote the development of Gouda cheeses and associated products that meet the preferences of young Chinese consumers.

Gouda cheese with different coagulants and types of milk: physicochemical, biochemical, microbiological, and sensory properties

Gouda cheese with different coagulants and types of milk: physicochemical, biochemical, microbiological, and sensory properties

Employing Response Surface Methodology for Investigating the Impact of Nigella sativa L. Oil on Physicochemical and Organoleptic Changes of Gouda Cheese upon Accelerated Storage

The primary goal of many producers was to preserve the quality of Gouda during maturation storage. The concentration of Nigella sativa L. oil and ripening time were two main variables in the present research that were improved using the Response Surface approach (RSM). The optimal conditions for ripening Gouda cheese were 0.29 (v/v) SFNSO concentration and 2.8 months at 14°C. It was determined that the RSM models were the best methodology for maintaining the selected Gouda cheese. The optimal Gouda cheeses: pH, fat content, moisture content, total protein, water activity (aw), ADV, and overall acceptability were found to be 5.9, 30.67%, 38%, 23.8%, 0.9131, 4.3, and 8.4, respectively. Additionally, there was a sizable overlap between the experimental and anticipated outcomes, which supported the accuracy and dependability of the proposed approach. The use of supercritical fluid Nigella sativa L. oil SFNSO on Gouda cheese improved and sustained the stability of Gouda cheese over storage time while higher black cumin concentrations had a negative effect on the sensory properties, resulting in dark appearance and bitter taste. Finally, it is necessary to produce excellent Gouda cheese on a practical scale under ideal RSM conditions.

Simple & better – Accelerated cheese ripening using a mesophilic starter based on a single strain with superior autolytic properties

In the manufacture of rennet-coagulated cheese, autolysis is a rate-limiting step for ripening. Previously, a highly autolytic and thermotolerant Lactococcus lactis strain, RD07, was generated, which in preliminary laboratory cheese trials demonstrated great potential as a cheese ripening accelerant. RD07 is proteinase positive (Prt+) and capable of metabolizing citrate (Cit+). In this study, we obtained two derivatives of RD07: EC8 lacking the citrate plasmid, and EC2 lacking the proteinase plasmid. EC2 and EC8 retained the autolytic properties of RD07, and autolyzed 20 times faster than Flora Danica (FD) and SD96, where the latter is the parent of RD07. The three strains EC2, EC8 and RD07 were used in a ratio of 90:8:2, to create a simple starter termed ERC. ERC was less sensitive to cooking when cultured in milk and autolyzed well after entering the stationary phase upon facing sugar starvation. The ERC starter was benchmarked against FD and SD96 in laboratory cheese trials. The free amino acid content in cheese prepared using the ERC culture was 31 % and 34 % higher than in cheese prepared using FD and SD96, respectively. Overall, the ERC culture resulted in a more rapid release of free amino acids. A large-scale (5000 L) Gouda cheese trial at a Danish dairy demonstrated that the single strain ERC starter was comparable in performance to FD + an adjunct Lactobacillus helveticus culture. Furthermore, a large-scale Danbo cheese trial demonstrated that ERC could reduce the ripening period by 50 % for long-term ripened (25 weeks) cheese, resulting in better cheese.

Influence of sustainable packaging material and packaging conditions on physicochemical, microbiological, and sensorial properties of cheeses

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different packaging materials [standard foil: BOPP (biaxially oriented polypropylene)/PET (polyester)/PE (polyethylene) for upper layer, and APET (polyethylene terephthalate)/PE for bottom layer; foil 1: PP (polypropylene)/PET/PE/EVOH (ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer)/PE upper layer, and PP/PE/EVOH/PE bottom layer; foil 2: PP/PET/PE/EVOH/PE upper layer, and PA (polyamide)/EVOH/PE bottom layer; foil 3: PP/PET/PE upper layer, and PA/EVOH/PE bottom layer; foil 4: PP/PET/PE upper layer, and PA/PE bottom layer; foil 5: PP upper layer, and PP/PP bottom layer] on the quality of 3 different ripening rennet cheeses packed under different modified atmosphere (MAP) conditions as reflected in particular physicochemical, microbiological, and sensorial changes. The changes were monitored during a period of 90 d of storage at 2°C or 8°C. For Gouda cheese, CO2 content of the headspace of the packages was in the range 35% to 45%, whereas for Maasdamer and Sielski Klasyczny cheeses it was 55% to 65%. Three-way ANOVA showed that the foil type influenced the moisture content of Gouda cheese stored for 90 d at 2°C and for Sielski Klasyczny cheese at 8°C, whereas the moisture content was not dependent on MAP conditions during storage. Moreover, the foil type had a significant effect on free fatty acid changes for Gouda and Sielski Klasyczny cheeses stored at 2°C for 90 d. Sensory attributes changed significantly over storage time at 2°C for all studied cheeses as affected by foil type, whereas there was no effect of MAP conditions. In general, the cheeses packed in standard foil and foil 4 were characterized by the highest values of mean sensory attributes. Time was the most significant factor influencing most changes in physicochemical and sensory attributes of cheeses stored at 2°C and 8°C. The storage temperature did not affect the moisture of the samples during storage. In general, we found an increase in the pH value during storage regardless of storage temperature. It was possible to decrease the thickness of the packaging material from initial 103 and 250 µm (standard foil; lid and bottom, respectively) to 98 and 100 µm (foil 4) without affecting sensory attributes of the product.

Chemical composition and amino acids profile of Gouda cheese supplemented with denatured whey protein paste

Chemical composition and amino acids profile of Gouda cheese supplemented with denatured whey protein paste

The rotation of primary starter culture mixtures results in batch-to-batch variations during Gouda cheese production.

Industrial production of Gouda cheeses mostly relies on a rotated use of different mixed-strain lactic acid bacteria starter cultures to avoid phage infections. However, it is unknown how the application of these different starter culture mixtures affect the organoleptic properties of the final cheeses. Therefore, the present study assessed the impact of three different starter culture mixtures on the batch-to-batch variations among Gouda cheeses from 23 different batch productions in the same dairy company. Both the cores and rinds of all these cheeses were investigated after 36, 45, 75, and 100 weeks of ripening by metagenetics based on high-throughput full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing accompanied with an amplicon sequence variant (ASV) approach as well as metabolite target analysis of non-volatile and volatile organic compounds. Up to 75 weeks of ripening, the acidifying Lactococcus cremoris and Lactococcus lactis were the most abundant bacterial species in the cheese cores. The relative abundance of Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides was significantly different for each starter culture mixture. This impacted the concentrations of some key metabolites, such as acetoin produced from citrate, and the relative abundance of non-starter lactic acid bacteria (NSLAB). Cheeses with the least Leuc. pseudomesenteroides contained more NSLAB, such as Lacticaseibacillus paracasei that was taken over by Tetragenococcus halophilus and Loigolactobacillus rennini upon ripening time. Taken together, the results indicated a minor role of leuconostocs in aroma formation but a major impact on the growth of NSLAB. The relative abundance of T. halophilus (high) and Loil. rennini (low) increased with ripening time from rind to core. Two main ASV clusters of T. halophilus could be distinguished, which were differently correlated with some metabolites, both beneficial (regarding aroma formation) and undesirable ones (biogenic amines). A well-chosen T. halophilus strain could be a candidate adjunct culture for Gouda cheese production.