Pasta Filata Research Articles

Differences in Chemical, Physical and Microbiological Characteristics of Italian Burrata Cheeses Made in Artisanal and Industrial Plants of Apulia Region.

The burrata cheese is a traditional product from Southern Italy, consisting of an envelope of pasta filata (stretched curd) filled with cream and pasta filata strips (usually leftovers from mozzarella production). Physical [water activity (aw), pH], chemical (moisture, NaCl content) and microbiological [total viable count (TVC), Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., Yersinia enterocolitica, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Enterobacteriaceae, coagulase-positive staphylococci] characteristics of burrata cheeses manufactured in artisanal and industrial plants were evaluated. The artisanal burrata showed lower aw values in the filling and the final product. The same was recorded in the filling for the moisture, probably due to differences between the types of cream used in the artisanal and the industrial cheesemaking. The pH value of the filling differed between the two groups but no difference was recorded in the final product. Microbiological differences were also recorded, with higher values for TVC and E. coli in artisanal than industrial burrata. All samples were negative for the other microbial determinations, with the exception of coagulase-positive staphylococci and Y. enterocolitica, which were detected in artisanal burrata. Differences in cheesemaking process were probably responsible for the strong variability of the physical and chemical data between the two cheeses; furthermore, differences in the hygienic features were also recorded. Even though artisanal products showed lower aw and pH values and higher NaCl concentration, the higher E. coli loads highlighted the need for a more accurate compliance with hygienic procedures along the artisanal cheesemaking process.

Production and characterisation of reduced-fat and PUFA-enriched Burrata cheese.

Burrata is an Italian fresh 'pasta filata' cheese made from cow's milk and cream that is rapidly spreading in Europe. It has very high caloric content, and a technological protocol was developed for producing a reduced-fat type and fortifying it with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) of vegetable origin. A satisfactory reduced-fat prototype was obtained by using a 14% fat cream, which was specifically developed by diluting double cream with a suspension of carob seed flour. The composition of the new cheese changed with respect to the control, but the sensory characteristics were not impaired. Moisture increased from 62·6 to 68·4%, fat on dry matter decreased from 59·1 to 34·7%, and the caloric content decreased from 1060·8 to 718 J/100 g. Proteolysis and lipolysis were not affected by the technological modifications: after 7 d storage, the electrophoretic pattern of caseins and the free fatty acids profile of experimental and control cheeses were not significantly different. Fortification of reduced-fat Burrata with PUFA was obtained by using two commercial formulates available at a compatible price with the current economic values of the cheese. The two formulates derived from flaxseeds and Carthamus tinctorius oil and allowed enrichment in C18 :3 : n3 (α-linolenic acid, ALA), and 9cis,11trans- and 10trans,12cis- conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), respectively. Fortification was easy to perform under a technical point of view, but the negative sensory impact limited fortification at a maximum of 7·0 mg g-1 fat ALA and 6·8 g-1 fat CLA.

A comparison of fresh, pasta filata, and aged Hispanic cheeses using sensory, chemical, functional, and microbiological assessments

Anecdotal information suggests that some Hispanic consumers may consider US-made Hispanic cheeses as having a general lack of authenticity compared with those made in their countries of origin. To characterize the potential differences, samples of fresh, pasta filata, and aged Hispanic cheeses were acquired from both the United States (total n=39) and countries of origin (total n=30) purchased from Mexico, Central America (Costa Rica and El Salvador), and the Caribbean (Puerto Rico). The proximate composition, microbial counts, melt profile, and sensory characteristics were evaluated and compared in country-of-origin cheeses and the US-made counterparts. The presence of Listeria spp. was confirmed for 1 Mexican aged cheese sample and 6 cheese samples from Central America (3 fresh, 2 pasta filata, and 1 aged). The chemical composition, melt profile, and sensory characteristics of fresh and pasta filata US Hispanic cheeses were not significantly different from their Mexican counterparts. Likewise, the chemical composition and melt profile of US aged Hispanic cheeses was not significantly different from the aged Mexican cheeses, but sensory characteristics varied among all aged cheeses. These results demonstrate the similarities and differences among US fresh, pasta filata, and aged Hispanic cheeses relative to their counterparts made in the countries of origin.

Microbiological characterization using combined culture dependent and independent approaches of Casizolu pasta filata cheese.

Casizolu is a traditional Sardinian (Italy) pasta filata cheese made with cow raw milk belonging to Sardo-Modicana and/or Bruno-Sarda breeds added with natural whey starter. This work aims to describe the traditional technology of this product and to evaluate the microbial groups/species involved in the first month of ripening. Raw milk, curd after stretching and Casizolu cheese samples from two different farmsteads were subjected to enumeration of microbial groups, isolation and genotypic characterization of isolates and PCR temporal temperature gel electrophoresis (TTGE) analysis. The counts of lactobacilli and lactococci groups in raw milk were about 5-6 log UFC ml(-1) of milk. These counts tended to increase in curd and cheeses, reaching values higher than 8 log UFC g(-1) of cheese. Culture dependent and independent approaches employed in this work highlighted the fundamental role of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus paracasei in the manufacture and ripening of Casizolu cheese. Other species frequently isolated were Enterococcus durans, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus italicus while Enterococcus lactis, Streptococcus parauberis, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus pentosus, Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus fermentum and Lactococcus raffinolactis were isolated occasionally. Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, Strep. thermophilus and Lact. paracasei were the principal bacterial species involved in the Casizolu cheese manufacturing and ripening. For the first time, Ent. italicus and Ent. lactis were isolated in the pasta filata cheese. This study shows the first data on microbial groups and species involved in the manufacture of Casizolu cheese and highlights the role of Lact. paracasei and Enterococcus spp. from the earliest stages of ripening cheese; furthermore, provides evidence that raw milk cheese is a source of new strains and therefore a reservoir of microbial biodiversity.

Exploit Fat Mimetic Potential of Different Hydrocolloids in Low Fat Mozzarella Cheese

Fat reduction in diet is important as scientific evidence linked the high fat intake with coronary heart diseases and obesity. This association has resulted in increased consumer awareness and demand for low fat dairy products especially cheese. In cheese, fat reduction negatively affects the rheological, sensory and functional characteristics. Mozzarella is a type of pasta filata cheese which contains 30 to 45% milk fat on dry weight basis and about 75% of the Mozzarella cheese produced in the world is used as an ingredient on pizza topping. This work was to exploit fat mimetic potential of different hydrocolloids (guar gum and xanthan gum) by using them at different levels (0.15%, 0.30%, and 0.45% of milk) in low fat Mozzarella cheese. In order to assess the suitability of resulting low fat Mozzarella cheese, it was compared with full fat and half fat cheese manufactured by using milk standardized at 3% and 1.5% fat respectively. Result showed that different levels of hydrocolloids affect cheese composition, functionality, texture, sensory attributes and yield to varying extent. Use of guar gum and xanthan gum at 0.15% level produces low fat Mozzarella cheese comparable with full fat cheese in terms of cheese functionality and yield. This work provides strong evidence for the quality production of low fat Mozzarella cheese by using different hydrocolloids as fat replacer.

English

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) arise in KaAŸar cheese, an artisanal pasta filata cheese produced in Turkey from raw milk without starter addition or pasteurized milk with starter culture. In this study, 13 samples of KaAŸar cheese that were produced from raw milk were used as reference materials. LAB were characterized by using phenotypic, API and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy methods. One hundred and fifty-seven (157) strains were isolated from 13 cheese samples, and identification test was performed for 83 strains. At the end of the study, a total of 22 Lactococcus sp., 36 Enterecoccus sp. and 25 Lactobacillus sp. were determined in the isolated strains by phenotypic identification. After identification with FTIR spectroscopy and statistical analysis, expected results were not taken by FTIR spectroscopy due to higher correlation (> % 99) obtained with more than one reference culture. Fewer number of reference strains was a limitation of the analysis. Therefore, identification should be made with more reference bacteria in the FTIR analysis and should also be supported with molecular techniques. Key words: KaAŸar cheese, lactic acid bacteria, identification, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR).

A simple and fast method for the inspection of preservatives in cheeses and cream by liquid chromatography- electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

In this work, a simplified extraction and short time of analysis method for the simultaneous determination of natamycin, nisin and sorbic acid in cheeses and cream by reverse phase liquid chromatography-electrospray-tandem mass spectrometry was developed. Full validation was performed according to the Commission Decision 2002/657/EC criteria and method applicability was checked on several samples, aiming to inspect their compliance with regulatory limits. The method was linear in the concentration ranges of 0–10mgkg−1 (natamycin), 0–25mgkg−1 (nisin) and 020mgkg−1 (sorbic acid). Samples of the three most consumed types of cheese (fresh, pasta filata and ripened) in Brazil and cream (ultra high temperature and pasteurized, 20–30% fat content) were assessed. A surprising rate of non-compliance was observed, especially among ripened grated cheeses, since 80% of samples were above the maximum limit for sorbic acid with an average concentration of 2766.3±10.8mgkg−1. Moreover, a major non-compliance for the cream samples was observed. The proposed method can be applied as an efficient tool for the inspection of preservatives in cheeses and cream.

Systematic approach to study temperature and time effects on yield of pasta filata cheese

A batch cooker‐stretcher for pasta filata cheese production was developed based on the kitchen machine ‘Thermomix’. With this batch model system, the effect of kneading time (180, 420 and 600 s) and temperature (55, 60 and 70 °C) on the chemical composition of the pasta filata cheese and the yield was investigated. An increase in temperature from 55 to 70 °C reduced the yield of the pasta filata cheese production from 0.88 to 0.59 g/g, compared to initial curd weight. A correlation between process temperature and the water‐holding properties of protein (casein micelles) is proposed.

Increasing stringiness of low-fat mozzarella string cheese using polysaccharides

When fat content of pasta filata cheese is lowered, a loss of fibrous texture occurs and low-fat (LF) mozzarella cheese loses stringiness, making it unsuitable for the manufacture of string cheese. We investigated the use of various polysaccharides that could act as fat mimetics during the stretching and extruding process to aid in protein strand formation and increase stringiness. Low-fat mozzarella cheese curd was made, salted, and then 3.6-kg batches were heated in hot (80°) 5% brine, stretched, and formed into a homogeneous mass. Hot (80°C) slurries of various polysaccharides were then mixed with the hot cheese and formed into LF string cheese using a small piston-driven extruder. Polysaccharides used included waxy corn starch, waxy rice starch, instant tapioca starch, polydextrose, xanthan gum, and guar gum. Adding starch slurries increased cheese moisture content by up to 1.6% but was not effective at increasing stringiness. Xanthan gum functioned best as a fat mimetic and produced LF string cheese that most closely visually resembled commercial string cheese made using low-moisture part skim (LMPS) mozzarella cheese without any increase in moisture content. Extent of stringiness was determined by pulling apart the cheese longitudinally and observing size, length, and appearance of individual cheese strings. Hardness was determined using a modified Warner-Bratzler shear test. When LF string cheese was made using a 10% xanthan gum slurry added at ~1%, increased consumer flavor liking was observed, with scores after 2wk of storage of 6.44 and 6.24 compared with 5.89 for the LF control cheese; although this was lower than an LMPS string cheese that scored 7.27. The 2-wk-old LF string cheeses containing xanthan gum were considered still slightly too firm using a just-about-right (JAR) test, whereas the LMPS string cheese was considered as JAR for texture. With further storage up to 8wk, all of the LF string cheeses softened (JAR score was closer to 3.0); however, much of the stringiness of the LF string cheeses was also lost during storage. We have demonstrated the potential feasibility of increasing stringiness in LF string cheese using polysaccharides with xanthan gum, although further research is needed to develop quantitative methodology for measuring stringiness and to maintain stringiness through the extended refrigerated shelf life needed for string cheese.

Short communication: Effect of genetic type on antioxidant activity of Caciocavallo cheese during ripening

The aim of this work was to investigate the antioxidant activity of Caciocavallo cheese made from the milk of 2 breeds, Italian Brown and Italian Holstein, and ripened for 1, 30, 60, 90, and 150 d. The antioxidant activity of cheese was measured using the 2,2’-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and thiol assays. Statistical analysis showed a significant effect of the studied factors. Italian Brown cheese had higher antioxidant activity than Italian Holstein cheese, and antioxidant activity increased during ripening of both cheeses types. Moreover, antioxidant activity varied during ripening depending on the rate of formation of soluble peptides. To date, few studies have evaluated the effect of genetic type on antioxidant capacity of the pasta filata cheeses; thus, this study forms the basis of new knowledge that could lead to the production of a pasta filata cheese with specific nutraceutical characteristics.

Changes in quality of nonaged pasta filata Mexican cheese during refrigerated vacuum storage

Six batches of Oaxaca cheese (a Mexican pasta filata cheese) from 3 dairy plants were sampled and vacuum-packaged at 8°C up to 24d. Counts of principal microbial groups, pH, levels of sugars, organic acids, lipolytic and proteolytic indices, and texture, color, and meltability values of cheeses were studied at d 1, 8, 16 and 24 of storage. A descriptive sensory analysis of selected taste, odor, and texture characteristics was also carried out. The main changes in the cheeses during the storage were decreases in pH, hardness, elasticity, and whiteness, and an increase in meltability. Neither lipolytic nor proteolytic activities were evident during the storage of cheeses. Storage time resulted in a gradual quality loss of unmelted cheeses. This loss of quality might be related to the decrease of hardness and the appearance off-flavors.

Effect of adjuncts on microbiological and chemical properties of Scamorza cheese

Scamorza is a semi-hard, pasta filata cheese resembling low-moisture Mozzarella cheese, with a short ripening time (<30d). Scamorza has a bland flavor and, to provide diversification from similar cheeses, it was manufactured using 2 types of milk in the current study: 100% Italian Friesian milk (F) or 90% F and 10% Jersey cow milk (mixed, M), and 2 types of starter: Streptococcus thermophilus or S. thermophilus with peptidolytic Lactococcus lactis, Lactobacillus helveticus, and Lactobacillus paracasei strains as adjuncts). The cheeses were ripened for 30d. The adjunct did not significantly affect acid production or growth of the primary starter; 2 of the species used in the adjunct (Lb. paracasei and Lb. helveticus) rapidly colonized the cheese and persisted until the end of ripening, whereas the counts of nonstarter lactic acid bacteria in the control cheese were low until the end of ripening. The use of adjuncts affected pH, microbial composition (as assessed by both culture-dependent and culture-independent methods), total free amino acid content, and volatile profile (measured using an electronic nose), whereas milk type had only a minor effect. Although differences in primary proteolysis were found, they were probably indirect and related to the effects on pH and moisture. We conclude that, even with a short ripening time (30d), use of a peptidolytic adjunct may significantly affect important features of Scamorza and may be used to create a product that is measurably different from competing products.

Production technology and characterization of Fior di latte cheeses made from sheep and goat milks

Innovation in the small ruminant dairy sector faces structural challenges because dairies are often involved in breeding and produce cheeses that appeal essentially to local markets using traditional technologies and facilities. An investigation was carried out to produce Fior di latte, a traditional, soft pasta filata cheese, from sheep and goat milks at the farm level. Fior di latte is an Italian high-moisture, round mozzarella currently produced from cow and water buffalo milks; it is very popular in Europe. Cheesemaking trials were performed and the most appropriate technology proved to be a combination of direct acidification and lactic fermentation, with some modifications to the milk coagulation phase. The gross composition of the experimental cheeses was similar to that of bovine Fior di latte, and the overall hygienic quality was satisfactory even though the milk had not been pasteurized. The new cheeses were similar in appearance to the bovine type, but some specific features were detected. Besides the typical “goaty” and “sheepy” flavors, some novel and distinctive descriptors of odor, flavor, and texture were noted. Our experiment showed that good quality Fior di latte cheese that complies with microbiological requirements of the European legislation can be obtained from sheep and goat milks by appropriately modifying the cheesemaking technology.

A survey of non-starter lactic acid bacteria in traditional cheeses: Culture dependent identification and survival to simulated gastrointestinal transit

Cultivable NSLAB in traditional Pasta filata and ewes' milk cheeses were studied by both PCR-DGGE of cells from Rogosa agar and by isolation and molecular identification after a simulated gastric juice (SGJ) treatment of the cheese. Two to six species were retrieved from each sample. The majority of isolates were identified as Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Enterococcus or Pediococcus. Bile tolerance and bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity were tested on 88 strains: 64% were able to grow with ≥0.15% bile and 40% were BSH positive. The effect of simulated digestion was tested on 15 strains. Inactivation ranged from 0.15 to 2.93 log cycles; most of the lethality was associated with pancreatic juice treatment. Although SGJ treatment alone may not provide a correct estimate of tolerance to gastrointestinal transit, it allowed selection of strains with a high tolerance to gastric juice, which may be tested as probiotic candidates.

Concerns about the microbiological quality of traditional raw milk cheeses: a worldwide issue

Six types of unripened raw milk fresh (Robiola, Crescenza, Primo sale and Formaggella) and “pasta filata” cheeses (Mozzarella and Burrata) were evaluated for microbiological parameters. No Listeria monocytogenes or Salmonella spp. were detected, but high microbial counts were revealed. Significantly higher Total Viable Counts (TVC) and Enterobacteriaceae counts were observed in “fresh cheese” than in “pasta filata” samples. Values > 6 Log CFU/g were found in 81.3% of fresh vs 50% in pasta filata for TVC and 65.6% vs 12.5% for Enterobacteriaceae, respectively. An evident contamination by Escherichia coli , Coagulase-positive Staphylococci and Pseudomonas spp. was detected in all the cheeses: the causes could be the improper hygiene of the artisanal production practices and the permanence of the cheeses on the refrigerated shelves. A careful attention to the respect of the good manufacturing practices is suggested to avoid the presence of initial high bacterial loads.

Ripening process of Cascaval cheese: compositional and textural aspects.

Two textural characteristics, elasticity modulus and firmness, were determined during the ripening process of Cascaval cheese, using both instrumental and sensorial techniques. Uniaxial compression was used to determine the textural characteristics and the results were compared with the ones obtained by sensorial analysis, revealing a good correlation. The chemical composition of cheese was also determined, including the nitrogen fractions (total nitrogen, water soluble nitrogen, non-protein nitrogen and phosphotungstic acid soluble nitrogen). The data thus obtained were statistically processed in order to find the differences between the samples, as well as to find the correlation between the techniques of analysis. The study showed that the ripening process of the Cascaval cheese is similar to the ripening of other pasta filata cheese. The moisture content decreases during maturation as a result of water evaporation. The concentration of nitrogen fractions increases during the ripening stage, and so do the firmness and elasticity modulus. The biochemical processes that occur during maturation largely influence the textural parameters and this is proved by both instrumental and sensorial analyses.

Microbial ecology dynamics reveal a succession in the core microbiota involved in the ripening of pasta filata caciocavallo pugliese cheese.

Pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA targeting RNA, community-level physiological profiles made with Biolog EcoPlates, proteolysis, and volatile component (VOC) analyses were mainly used to characterize the manufacture and ripening of the pasta filata cheese Caciocavallo Pugliese. Plate counts revealed that cheese manufacture affected the microbial ecology. The results agreed with those from culture-independent approaches. As shown by urea-PAGE, reverse-phase high pressure liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), and free-amino-acid (FAA) analyses, the extent of secondary proteolysis mainly increased after 30 to 45 days of ripening. VOCs and volatile free fatty acids (VFFA) were identified by a purge-and-trap method (PT) and solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), respectively. Except for aldehydes, the levels of most of VOCs and VFFA mainly increased from 30 to 45 days onwards. As shown through pyrosequencing analysis, raw cows' milk was contaminated by Firmicutes (53%), Proteobacteria (39%), Bacteroidetes (7.8%), Actinobacteria (0.06%), and Fusobacteria (0.03%), with heterogeneity at the genus level. The primary starter Streptococcus thermophilus dominated the curd population. Other genera occurred at low incidence or sporadically. The microbial dynamics reflected on the overall physiological diversity. At 30 days, a microbial succession was clearly highlighted. The relative abundance of Streptococcus sp. and especially St. thermophilus decreased, while that of Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus sp., and especially Lactobacillus paracasei increased consistently. Despite the lower relative abundance compared to St. thermophilus, mesophilic lactobacilli were the only organisms positively correlated with the concentration of FAAs, area of hydrophilic peptide peaks, and several VOCs (e.g., alcohols, ketones, esters and all furans). This study showed that a core microbiota was naturally selected during middle ripening, which seemed to be the main factor responsible for cheese ripening.

Effects of genetic type, stage of lactation, and ripening time on Caciocavallo cheese proteolysis

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of genetic type, stage of lactation, and ripening time on proteolysis in Caciocavallo cheese. One hundred twenty Caciocavallo cheeses made from the milk of 2 breeds, Italian Brown and Italian Holstein and characterized by different stages of lactation were obtained and ripened for 1, 30, 60, 90, and 150d. Cheese proteolysis was investigated by ripening index (ratio of water-soluble N at pH 4.6 to total protein, %) and by the study of degradation of the protein fractions (αS1-, β-, and para-κ-casein), which was determined by densitometric analysis of isoelectric focusing results. The statistical analysis showed a significant effect of the studied factors. Ripening index was higher in Italian Brown Caciocavallo cheese and in cheeses made with early lactation milk, whereas casein solubilization was greater in the first 2mo of ripening. Isoelectric focusing analysis of cheese samples during ripening showed extensive hydrolysis of caseins. In particular, the protein fraction that underwent major degradation by proteolytic enzymes was αS1-casein, followed by β-casein, whereas para-κ-casein was less degraded. Italian Brown cheese showed a lower residual quantity of β- and para-κ-casein, whereas Italian Holstein cheese showed a lower residual quantity of αS1-casein. In addition, significant interactions of both first and second order were found on both ripening index and degradation of protein fractions. This study demonstrated that the analyzed factors influenced proteolysis of Caciocavallo cheese, which forms the basis of new knowledge that could lead to the production of a pasta filata cheese with specific characteristics.

The Microfloras and Sensory Profiles of Selected Protected Designation of Origin Italian Cheeses.

Approximately 39 Italian cheeses carry protected designation of origin (PDO) status. These cheeses differ in their manufacturing technology and the microbial flora which comprise the finished products. The evolution of lactic microflora in cheeses with PDO status is of particular interest because the biochemical activities of these organisms participate in cheesemaking and may play an acknowledged role in the development of organoleptic characteristics during ripening. Nonstarter lactic acid bacteria (NSLAB) constitute complex microbial associations that are characterized by the occurrence of various species and many biotypes as a result of a number of selective conditions persisting during the manufacturing process and different ecological niches. The evolution of different species during ripening of Fiore Sardo showed that, when present, Lactobacillus paracasei persists and dominates the microflora of the cheese in the last period of ripening, suggesting that this species, more resistant to the constraints of the mature cheese, could be involved in proteolysis and in other enzymatic processes occurring during cheese ripening. In contrast, the stretching step typical of pasta filata cheese, such as Ragusano, induced a simplification of the raw milk profiles, allowing the persistence only of some predominant species, such as Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis, Lactococcus lactis, and Streptococcus macedonicus, after the stretching step. Lactobacillus plantarum and L. paracasei were isolated from ripened Castelmagno PDO cheese samples with the highest frequencies. These species, generally absent in the milk, occur in dairy ecosystems and dominate the bacterial flora of many ripened semihard cheeses. In PDO long-ripened Italian cheese such as Parmigiano Reggiano, the NSLAB population is mainly formed by L. paracasei, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and Pediococcus acidilactici. Lactobacillus helveticus, L. delbrueckii subsp. lactis, and L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus were also detected. Continued insight into the microbial populations of traditional Italian cheeses will allow continued production of characteristic, high-quality cheeses which have been enjoyed for many centuries.

Innovative Caciocavallo cheeses made from a mixture of cow milk with ewe or goat milk

This study assessed and compared the physicochemical, microbiological, and sensorial characteristics of Caciocavallo cheeses, made from cow milk and a mixture of cow with ewe or goat milk, during ripening. Different cheese-making trials were carried out on an industrial scale following the standard procedure of pasta filata cheeses, with some modifications. The percentage of the different added milk to cow milk influenced compositional and nutritional characteristics of the innovative products, leading to a satisfactory microbiological and sensorial quality.