Pasta Filata Cheese Research Articles

Provolone del Monaco PDO cheese: Lactic microflora, biogenic amines and volatilome characterization

One commercial production run of Provolone del Monaco − a long-ripened pasta filata cheese − was followed up to the end of ripening for a total of 20 samples. 371 LAB isolates were subject to genetic characterization followed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The dominant species were Lacticaseibacillus casei/paracasei (19.4 %), Streptococcus macedonicus (19.1 %) and Enterococcus faecalis (13.2 %). Strains were screened for features of technological interest or safety relevance. Tyramine-producing cultures were quite common, above all within enterococci. By MALDI TOF Mass Spectrometry, one Lactococcus lactis and one Enterococcus faecium strain proved to be bacteriocin producers.Four further cheese wheels from the same production run at 623 days of ripening were evaluated for volatile organic compounds, biogenic amines, and bacterial community by metagenomic sequencing. Three individual wheel samples shared a rather similar microbiome with Lactobacillus delbrueckii and Streptococcus thermophilus as the most represented species, while the fourth wheel appeared wholly different being dominated by Lentilactobacillus buchneri and St. infantarius. Additionally, this sample had the greatest content of biogenic amines and a different VOCs composition.Given the variance seen among cheese wheels processed and ripened under the same conditions, the search for adjunct cultures in the production of this cheese seems to be of utmost importance.

Molecular Typing of Potentially Pathogenic Escherichia coli Isolated from Fresh Pasta Filata Venezuelan Cheeses

Background. Fresh pasta filata cheese is considered as one of the most important foods in the Venezuelan diet. It is typically produced by small-scale producers using raw milk. The objective of this research was to molecularly characterize the pathogenic potential of Escherichia coli strains isolated from pasta filata cheese manufactured and marketed in Venezuela. Methodology. In the period between January and March of 2019, a total of 36 strains of E. coli were isolated from a variety of pasta filata cheeses including 17 samples of mozzarella, 16 of telita, and 3 of guayanés. These strains were isolated according to the Venezuelan Commission of Industrial Standards (COVENIN) and identified by conventional methods (biochemical and phenotypic tests). Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using the disk diffusion technique. Phylogenetic grouping and detection of virulence genes were performed by Polymerase Chain Reaction amplification. Diversity and genetic relationships were determined by Rep-PCR. Results: All strains were susceptible to the tested antibiotics. Phylogroup A (n=19) was the most frequent (52.8%), followed by groups D (n=11; 30.6%), and B1 (n=2; 5.6%). The majority of isolates carried at least two virulence genes, one coding for adhesion mechanisms (fimH) and the other for iron uptake (fyuA). Only one strain of phylogroup A presented a profile consisting of four virulence genes (fimH, fyuA, kpsMT II, and papAH). Four strains that could not be classified according to Clermont's scheme carried resistance genes as well. A heterogeneous population structure was observed by Rep-PCR of the strains. Conclusion: Results support the hypothesis that the E. coli strains isolated from the three types of pasta filata cheeses manufactured and marketed in Venezuela have identical characteristics and virulence factors to Extraintestinal Pathogenic E. coli strains observed in animals and humans, posing a potential health risk. Therefore, it is essential to improve hygienic and sanitary controls at all stages of cheese production and to implement measures for epidemiological surveillance of potentially pathogenic bacterial strains present in Venezuelan, artisanal pasta filata cheeses.

An Overview: Specificities and Novelties of the Cheeses of the Eastern Mediterranean

The aim of this study is to provide an overview of the specificities (milk characteristics, production process, ripening biochemistry, composition, and sensory properties) and novelties of the world-famous traditional cheeses of the Eastern Mediterranean (EM). The EM area is remarkably heterogeneous (11 countries—Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Türkiye, Cyprus, Greece, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia) in terms of cheese production, but there are some common features that can be associated with EM which are connected to the difficult geoclimaticconditions (hilly terrain and hot summers). Cheesemakers resort to some preservation methods, such as high salt content (in white-brined cheeses), high total solids content (in hard cheeses), the use of hot water in the treatment of the curd (in pasta filata cheeses), the addition of some local herbs with antimicrobial properties, and the use of animal skin sacks for cheese ripening. Due to the high proportion of whey as a by-product, whey is traditionally used in EM for the production of whey cheeses. Preserving the production of traditional EM cheeses is critical to maintaining their cultural significance and meeting the demand of consumers interested in the provenance, craftsmanship, and nutritional value of these unique products.

Effect of the autochthonous starter culture on physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory characteristics of traditional colombian double-cream cheese: A kinetic approach

Double-cream cheese is a Colombian pasta-filata cheese made from fresh and acidified cow milk. Two kinds of cheese were compared: conventional (QTR) and autochthonous starter culture added (QCP). Double-cream cheeses with yield, moisture, fat, and protein of 10.98%, 48.52 g/100 g, 24.58 g/100 g, and 23.23 g/100 g were obtained, respectively. For both kinds of cheese, no significant differences during the storage period for pH (5.19), acidity (0.3 g/100 g), moisture (46.73 g/100 g), and total solids (53.47 g/100 g) were observed. The values of cohesiveness (0.33), gumminess (18.91 J), hardness (30.03 N), and chewiness (14.75 J) were higher for QCP during the storage time. General quality for QTR and QCP were 9.35 ± 0.87 and 9.25 ± 0.24, respectively. At the end of the storage period, QTR exhibited a higher count of total coliforms (7.20 ± 0.00 log CFU/g), while QCP showed a lower count (3.58 ± 0.98 log CFU/g). The specific growth rates of total coliforms in QTR and QCP were 0.0146 h−1 and 0.0068 h−1, respectively. QCP demonstrates an extended shelf life of 22 days more than QTR under optimal initial conditions (0.00 log CFU/g). The autochthonous starter culture can inhibit coliform growth, enabling the production of cheese with extended shelf life and similar sensory qualities to conventional cheese.

Effect of Palmito cheese processing on sensory characteristics and degree of liking

Introduction. The production of regional food with local and cultural identity has become an attractive business for small-scale producers because it allows them to market their products highlighting local ingredients and traditional processing that reflects the know-how of each region. One example is Pasta filata cheese. Objective. To identify sensory characteristics and level of liking for Costa Rican Pasta filata cheeses (Palmito cheese). Materials and methods. The project was carried out at the facilities of the University of Costa Rica, during 2015. Nineteen samples of Costa Rican Palmito cheese were used, with fourteen of them being produced by artisanal producers and five by industrial producers. The methodology of Generic Quantitative Descriptive Analysis (QDA) was followed, with ten trained judges defining twenty-one attributes. Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering (AHC) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were conducted to relate the samples to their attributes. Acceptance testing was performed with one hundred consumers. Consumer AHC and external preference mapping were applied to correlate the results of the liking with those of the QDA. Results. Significant differences (p<0,05) among samples were obtained in the QDA for all attributes. The samples were grouped into three clusters based on similarity attributes. The PCA showed one group, primarily consisting of traditional cheeses, clustered by attributes such as acid and salty flavor, firmness, moisture, and stringy appearance. Another group, corresponding to refrigerated, pasteurized, and unpasteurized cheeses, had a higher intensity of yellow color, greasy texture, softness, and less stringy appearance. A final group, composed of one sample, had a lettuce flavor. Conclusion. Through the external preference mapping, it was concluded that consumers like the majority of industrial Palmito cheeses, but they prefer traditional ones with characteristics such as stringy and creamy flavor.

Application of Commercial Biopreservation Starter in Combination with MAP for Shelf-Life Extension of Burrata Cheese.

Burrata is a fresh pasta filata cheese manufactured in Italy. Its demand on the worldwide market is constantly growing, and prolonging its shelf-life is an important challenge for the Italian dairy industry. In the present study, combining a commercial bio-protective starter and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) was evaluated as a strategy to delay the spoilage of product quality. Three experimental samples of burrata were produced by experimental trials at the industrial level and stored for 28 days under refrigerated conditions. Two samples contained the protective starter but were packaged differently (under MAP and immersed in water), and one did not contain the starter and was packaged under MAP. A sample of burrata without a starter and immersed in water was also prepared and used as a control. The combination of MAP and bio-protective starter delayed the degradation of lactose and citric acid, used as indices of microbial activity. In fact, lower counts of Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas were observed in this sample. In contrast, control burrata had the highest level of total Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) at the end of the storage period, because of higher microbial activity. Even though all samples were judged to be unacceptable after 28 days from the sensory point of view, the sample with bio-protective starter under MAP had the best score after 21 days, obtaining a shelf-life extension of about 7 days with respect to control. In conclusion, the combination of MAP and protective starter culture could be an easy way to extend the shelf-life of burrata stored under correct refrigerated conditions.

Production of Sensorily Acceptable Pasta Filata Cheese with Partial Substitution of Sheep's Milk Powder in Different Forms.

The presented study analyzed the possibility of pasta filata cheese production using sheep's milk powder in different forms and substitution amounts with fresh cow's milk. For the production of the pasta filata cheeses that were analyzed in the research, sheep's milk powder and reconstituted sheep's milk were used for partial substitution with fresh cow's milk in the amount of approx. 20, 30 and 40 percent (v/v). The obtained results showed that the more sheep's milk in the form of powder in the mixture, the lower the cheese's moisture content. The fat and protein content in the whey after the production of cheeses from mixtures was lower than after the production of cheeses from reconstituted sheep's milk only. Cheeses produced entirely from reconstituted sheep's milk displayed the highest fat loss. The greatest cheese yield was observed for cheeses from mixtures with sheep's milk powder and entirely from reconstituted sheep's milk. Pasta filata cheeses made from a mixture of cow's milk and sheep's milk powder that was not reconstituted were much less acceptable to consumers than reconstituted milk powder cheeses, especially those with 40% and 30% added powder. Sensory profile analysis showed that the addition of sheep's milk to the mixture, regardless of the form, affected the appearance, consistency, and flavor of the produced pasta filata cheeses. Mixing cow's milk with sheep's milk powder created the possibility of modeling the final cheese quality and yield.

Major Causes of Variation of External Appearance, Chemical Composition, Texture, and Color Traits of 37 Categories of Cheeses.

Cheeses are produced by many different procedures, giving rise to many types differing in ripening time, size, shape, chemical composition, color, texture, and sensory properties. As the first step in a large project, our aim was to characterize and quantify the major sources of variation in cheese characteristics by sampling 1050 different cheeses manufactured by over 100 producers and grouped into 37 categories (16 with protected designation of origin, 4 traditional cheese categories, 3 pasta filata cheese categories, 5 flavored cheese categories, 2 goat milk categories, and 7 other categories ranging from very fresh to very hard cheeses). We obtained 17 traits from each cheese (shape, height, diameter, weight, moisture, fat, protein, water soluble nitrogen, ash, pH, 5 color traits, firmness, and adhesiveness). The main groups of cheese categories were characterized and are discussed in terms of the effects of the prevalent area of origin/feeding system, species of lactating females, main cheese-making technologies, and additives used. The results will allow us to proceed with the further steps, which will address the interrelationships among the different traits characterizing cheeses, detailed analyses of the nutrients affecting human health and sensorial fingerprinting.

Isothermal inactivation of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in curd simulating the stretching phase in pasta-filata cheese process.

Raw milk and dairy products are usually considered the major sources of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) exposure for humans. During the production process of mozzarella cheese, as well as of other pasta-filata cheeses made with pasteurized or raw milk, curd is heated and stretched by addition of hot or boiling water. This step is the critical point for the inactivation of MAP during the production process, but, to our knowledge, no studies have been published about the thermal death time values of MAP in curd. The aim of this study was to determine the inactivation kinetics of MAP in curd used to produce pasta-filata cheese in six independent experiments. The milk was inoculated with a mix of MAP strains (field and registered strains) and, with the aim to simulate the thermal treatment of the curd during the stretching step, samples of 10 g of contaminated curd were vacuum packed and treated separately at six different temperatures from 60°C to 75°C in a water bath. MAP survival was then evaluated by plate count method and inactivation parameters were estimated for determining the thermal resistance of the pathogen directly in the curd. D-values increased from 0.15 min (D75-value) to 4.22 min (D60-value) and the calculated z-value was 10.2°C. These data aid: (i) to design food thermal process treatments defining acceptance limits of critical control points to ensure safety against MAP; (ii) to predict the time/temperature combinations needed to obtain a certain MAP log reduction during the curd stretching step; (iii) to optimize or validate pasta-filata cheese process.

Invited review: Fresh pasta filata cheeses: Composition, role, and evolution of the microbiota in their quality and safety.

With a global market of around $55 billion (in US dollars; i.e. around the 57% of the global cheese market), pasta filata cheeses sales are rising approximately 2% per year worldwide and are expected to further increase to $65.01 billion by 2028. Among these groups of cheeses, fresh pasta filata cheeses, such as mozzarella and fior di latte, are the most consumed. Herein, we provide an overview of fresh pasta filata cheeses, their commodity-related and technological aspects, focusing on the composition, the role, and evolution of their microbiota along the dairy chain.

Promoting the direct sale of pasta filata cheese

Small-medium dairy enterprises may verify the possibility to enhance their margins by shortening the supply chain. We propose a short sequence of marketing actions with the aim to support the inclusion of transformed goods into their productive process. These actions include the assessment of the main factors affecting consumer cheese purchase decision, evaluation of the validity of the association brand product, and identification of the preferred cheese format. Eighty-two consumers were selected. Their motives for purchasing pasta filata cheese were assessed using the food choice questionnaire. They were also asked to rate their preference for 4 different traditional pasta filata cheeses and 3 well-known local cheese brands. The frequency of consumption of 4 different Mozzarella cheese formats (standard Mozzarella, bite-size Mozzarella, cherries, knots or braids) was gathered. One-way ANOVA was used to analyze the food choice questionnaire scores. Purchase intentions were subjected to ANOVA with 2 factors (brand and cheese) and their interaction. The frequencies of consumption of the 4 different Mozzarella formats was analyzed using the χ2 test for independent samples. Based on our results, the communication around pasta filata cheese should focus on intrinsic characteristics such as healthiness and sensory properties, whereas standard Mozzarella with good nutritional and eating quality should be the most produced item and marketed if the associated brand product is well received by the consumers. By shortening the supply chain an increased economic and environmental sustainability can be expected.

Cis-trans retinol isomerisation: Influence of microorganisms during the production of pasta filata cheeses

The isomerisation index, or degree of retinol isomerisation (DRI), i.e. the percentage ratio between 13-cis and all-trans retinol, could be used as process and product index in dairy products. To better investigate microbial influence on retinol isomerisation, retinol isomerisation and microbial levels have been monitored during the technological process and the storage of different “pasta filata” cheeses. In the investigated cheeses, after a saponification procedure and HPLC analysis, 13-cis retinol, all-trans retinol and other cis retinols were detected. During production, an increase of 13-cis retinol and of the DRI was found. As to their initial values, an increment in almost all microorganisms, most remarkable for lactic acid bacteria, was detected. The isomerisation index was found to be significantly correlated to the growth of thermophilic lactic acid bacteria during the production process.

Effect of Packaging and Portioning on the Dynamics of Water-Fat Serum Release from Fresh Pasta Filata Soft Cheese.

The aim of the present study was to analyze the impact of cheese fragmentation and packaging on the dynamics of water–fat serum released from pasta filata cheese made from cow’s milk and its mixture with sheep’s milk. The addition of sheep’s milk reduced the amount of leachate from the vacuum-packed cheeses and did not cause as much loss of gloss as in the case of cow’s milk cheeses. This was also reflected in the microscopic images of the cheese samples. Consumers showed less acceptance of cow’s milk pasta filata cheeses than cheeses made with a mixture of cow’s and sheep’s milk (they had the same fat content, acidity, hardness, and oiling-off, but better stretching). The data describing water–fat serum release from pasta filata cheese within 24 h of unpacking was modeled with the use of the feed-forward artificial neural networks, whose architecture is based on Multi-Layer Perceptron with a single hidden layer. The model inputs comprised four independent variables, including one quantitative (i.e., time) and the other qualitative ones, which had the following states: type of raw material (cow’s milk, cow-sheep’s milk), way of sample portioning (whole, quarters, slices), packing method (vacuum packed and packed in brine).

Impact of different starter cultures and Lactobacillus helveticus on volatile components, chemical and sensory properties of pasta filata cheese

L.helveticus is known to follow mainly similar metabolic pathways to contribute to cheese flavor with S. thermophilus and L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus. In this study, the flavor contributions of commercial S. thermophilus starter cultures of different brands and L. helveticus adjunct culture to pasta filata type fresh Kashar cheese were investigated. L. helveticus affected the buttery aroma components of fresh Kashar cheese and resulted in low diacetyl content. In addition, acetaldehyde and other aroma components of L. helveticus added cheese was found to be higher than control and modified control cheeses. On the other hand, the modified control sample containing S. thermophilus from Danisco instead of Chr-Hansen in the control was closer to the control sample in terms of volatile profile. As the shelf-life progressed, the contribution of alcohols and hydrocarbons to volatile components decreased, while the contribution of ketones, which was the dominant group, increased in all products. When the proteolysis and lipolysis levels were examined, the control sample differed from the other two cheese samples with its high proteolysis and lipolysis rate. In summary, the rates of increase in water-soluble nitrogen and free fatty acid contents in 8 weeks of storage (from 18 to 72 days) were determined as 61% and 47%, respectively, in the control Kashar cheese, while it was 39% and 27% in the L. helveticus added sample, and 37% and 28% in the modified control sample. Finally, the sensory scores revealed that cheese flavor and texture preferences could be increased with the addition of L. helveticus.

The Effect of Freezing Sheep's Milk on the Meltability, Texture, Melting and Fat Crystallization Profiles of Fresh Pasta Filata Cheese.

Simple SummarySheep’s milk is usually produced on small farms. It is mainly used in the pro duction of cheese products. One of the methods of extending the shelf life of sheep’s milk is freezing it. In this study we examined the effect of freezing on sheep’s milk and a mixture of sheep’s and cow’s milk on the quality of fresh pasta filata cheeses produced from the milk. It has been proven that the freezing of milk affects the possibility of using it in later cheese processing. Freezing sheep’s milk influenced, among others, a greater hardness and less elasticity of the cheese. We also noticed that the addition of frozen sheep’s milk caused consumer dissatisfaction.Sheep’s milk is produced in smallholdings, which hinders the continuity of production. Therefore, freezing during periods of high production can be a solution. Herein, we examined the effect of freezing on sheep’s milk and a mixture of sheep and cow’s milk (70:30, v/v) on the quality of fresh pasta filata cheeses produced from the milk. Frozen/thawed sheep’s milk contributes little to the development of innovative and reformulated cheeses. This was due to 24% higher hardness and greater extensibility and cutting force, as well as lower stretching and elasticity. Although their flowability increased (Oiling-off from 3 to 12%), the meltability (tube test, and Schreiber test) decreased. Additionally, the use of frozen milk caused consumer dissatisfaction. The consumer penalty analysis of the just–about–right showed that freezing of the milk caused the loss of the refreshing, elasticity and shininess of pasta filata cheeses.

Profile of Carotenoids and Tocopherols for the Characterization of Lipophilic Antioxidants in “Ragusano” Cheese

Lipophilic antioxidants such as carotenoids and tocopherols are appreciated components in food because of their potential health benefits. The aim of this study was to describe the composition of these microconstituents in “Ragusano”, a typical Sicilian historical pasta filata cheese, and to compare them during two different production seasons. Specifically, the tocopherols’ composition was evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a fluorescence detector (HPLC-FD); whereas the contents of three main carotenoids were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a diode array detector with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-APCI-MS). The scope included studying the influence of dietary supplementation on the potential enrichment of “Ragusano” in antioxidants. The main results regarding the composition of lipophilic vitamins of 56 “Ragusano” cheeses, collected in winter and spring, revealed that α-tocopherol was the predominant component amongst tocopherols and carotenoids, while β-carotene prevailed among the carotenoids. The cheeses obtained in spring turned out to contain larger amounts of antioxidants, both tocopherols and carotenoids, while the dietary supplementation with minerals-vitamins led to a barely detectable increase of antioxidants compared to a measured control group.

Analysis of the water‐soluble compounds as a tool for discriminating traditional and industrial high moisture mozzarella made with citric acid

AbstractHigh moisture mozzarella from cow milk is a pasta filata cheese that can be manufactured by different protocols. Fermentation by autochthonous starter is used for the traditional product, whereas direct acidification with citric acid is widely used at industrial level. Both types are stored immersed in a liquid for preserving freshness, but this packaging method is known to favour the changes of the quality characteristics. The present study aimed to assess the evolution of the soluble compounds and to evaluate their use as chemical indices for discriminating the two types of mozzarella. The contents of lactose, organic acids, water‐soluble nitrogen and free amino acids differently changed over time. The whole patterns of these soluble compounds allowed discrimination of the two products during the whole storage period. The simple analyses of lactic acid and lactose could be a rapid tool to protect traditional mozzarella from industrial imitations obtained with citric acid.

Quality Characteristics and Consumer Acceptance of High-Moisture Mozzarella Obtained from Heat-Treated Goat Milk

High-moisture mozzarella is a pasta filata cheese manufactured from cow or buffalo milk that has spread all over the world. Its manufacturing from the milk of small ruminants (goat and sheep) has been recently proposed to innovate this ailing sector. Previously, a protocol was reported for making goat mozzarella from unpasteurized milk but, according to legislation, the microbiological safety of raw milk fresh cheeses is not guaranteed. In the present research, two new protocols were tested for producing mozzarella from pasteurized milk prepared by two different low-temperature long-time treatments (67 °C or 63 °C × 30 min). The obtained cheeses were subjected to physical–chemical and microbiological analyses and to consumer testing. The results showed that the heat treatments caused longer coagulation times than those reported in the literature, despite pre-acidification (at pH 5.93 or 6.35) having been performed to counterbalance the expected worsening of the coagulation aptitude. The obtained products showed differences in the chemical composition, texture, proteolysis, and lipolysis. Both pasteurization and pre-acidification played a role in determining these variations. Consumer testing indicated that mozzarella obtained from milk heated at the lower temperature and coagulated at a higher pH reached a good level of appreciation (62%).

Heat Resistance of Listeria monocytogenes in Dairy Matrices Involved in Mozzarella di Bufala Campana PDO Cheese

The presence of Listeria monocytogenes in Mozzarella di Bufala Campana Protected Designation of Origin cheeses may depend on curd stretching conditions and post contaminations before packaging. To avoid cross-contamination, thermal treatment of water, brines and covering liquid may become necessary. The present study aimed to improve knowledge about L. monocytogenes thermal resistance focusing on the influence of some cheese making operations, namely curd stretching and heat treatment of fluids in contact with cheese after molding, in order to improve the safety of the cheese, optimize efficacy and sustainability of the processes. Moreover, the role that cheese curd stretching plays in L. monocytogenes inactivation was discussed. The 12 tested strains showed a very heterogeneous heat resistance that ranged from 7 to less than 1 Log10 Cfu/mL reduction after 8 min at 60°C. D-values (decimal reduction times) and z-values (thermal resistance constant) calculated for the most heat resistant strain among 60 and 70°C were highly affected by the matrix and, in particular, heat resistance noticeably increased in drained cheese curd. As cheese curd stretching is not an isothermal process, to simulate the overall lethal effect of an industrial process a secondary model was built. The lethal effect of the process was estimated around 4 Log10 reductions. The data provided may be useful for fresh pasta filata cheese producers in determining appropriate processing durations and temperatures for producing safe cheeses.

Effect of Lactic Acid Bacteria Addition on the Microbiological Safety of Pasta-Filata Types of Cheeses.

In this work, the effects of different combinations of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on the growth of coagulase-positive staphylococci (CPS) and Escherichia coli were evaluated during ripening of 23 curd cheeses, and their subsequent behavior during the manufacture and storage of pasta-filata cheeses was characterized. Three groups of cheeses were prepared in total: first, control cheeses from raw milk without LAB addition; further pasteurized milk cheeses with LAB, CPS and E. coli intentional inoculation; and finally, raw milk cheeses with LAB added. The aim was to compare the effect of LAB from starter culture, and also in combination with native LAB, and to evaluate the LAB effect as a group, and further to suggest the culture with the best inhibitory potential. Based on the results, counts of CPS increased over 24 h in control curd cheese by 1.76 ± 0.56 log CFU/g. On the other hand, in raw milk cheeses with the addition of starter culture, the increase in CPS counts by 0.76 ± 0.87 log CFU/g was noticed. Counts of E. coli increased during the first 24 h of curd manufacture by 3.56 ± 0.41 log CFU/g in cheeses without LAB addition. Contrary to this, using of LAB cultures resulted in an increase in E. coli counts by only 1.40 ± 1.07 log CFU/g. After steaming at 63.6 ± 1.9°C for 7.2 ± 2.1 min (temperature of heated acidified curd was 54.9 ± 1.7°C), CPS decreased by 0.58 ± 1.12 log CFU/g, and E. coli decreased by 1.23 ± 0.97 log CFU/g in all cheeses, regardless of LAB addition. Finally, during storage of cheeses at 6 ± 0.5°C for 28 days, the levels of E. coli in control cheeses and in raw milk LAB-enriched cheeses reached levels of 2.07 ± 2.28 log CFU/g and 1.20 ± 0.85 log CFU/g, respectively. In addition, the counts of CPS at the end of storage met the criteria of EU Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1441/2007 (2007) (less than 4 log CFU/g) in all manufactured cheeses with added LAB culture, while in the control raw milk cheeses, a level of 3.80 ± 1.22 log CFU/g was observed. Regarding the culture used, the best microbiological inhibitory effect in 28-day-old cheeses was reached by the combination of Fresco culture with Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG, and the best sensory properties were judged to be those for cheeses manufactured with Culture A. A moderate negative effect of storage on overall sensory acceptance was noted, according to the final evaluation of overall acceptability of pasta-filata cheeses. The most satisfactory overall acceptability after 28 days of storage at 6°C was reached for cheese with the addition of culture A.