Fluorescence spectroscopy coupled with independent components analysis to monitor molecular changes during heating and cooling of Cantal-type cheeses with different NaCl and KCl contents

International audienceBACKGROUNDReduction of NaCl content of cheeses has received considerable attention by research during the past decades because of its health effects. Nonetheless, NaCl reduction is a challenge since it plays an important role in cheese quality, such as structure, texture and functional properties. Several methods were used to evaluate the effect of NaCl on these attributes. In this study, Cantal‐type cheeses with different salts (NaCl and KCl) were analyzed for their structure at a molecular level and rheological properties during heating (20–60 °C) and cooling (60–20 °C). The structure was investigated by synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy (SFS) and the rheological properties by small‐amplitude oscillatory test.RESULTSIndependent components analysis (ICA) gave three independent components that were attributed to coenzyme/Maillard reaction products (IC1), tryptophan (IC2) and vitamin A (IC3). Signal proportions of each IC depicted information regarding the changes in those fluorophores with salts, heating and cooling. In addition, canonical correlation analysis (CCA) of the IC proportions and rheological measurements related modifications at a molecular level evaluated by fluorescence to cheese texture (0.34 < R2 < 0.99).CONCLUSIONThis study demonstrated that SFS can monitor and characterize modification of Cantal‐type cheeses at a molecular level, based on the analysis of the fluorescence spectra by ICA. The nature of correlation between signal proportions and the rheological parameters depicted that rheological attributes of cheeses observed at the macroscopic level can be derived from fluorescence spectra. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industr