Incorporation of adjunct cultures of Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus paracasei subsp paracasei and Bifidobacterium bifidum into white cheese

WOS: 000279317500020White cheeses were manufactured from bovine milk with ordinary cheese starter, and with the adjunct cultures of Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei and Bifidobacterium bifidum, and stored in plastic containers with brine solution. The physico-chemical properties, the survival of these adjunct cultures and cheese starter during ripening and sensory properties of cheeses were assessed throughout 90 days of ripening. Incorporation of adjunct cultures into white cheese and high levels of their survival rates during ripening had an insignificant effect on the approximate composition of cheeses. The presence of the adjunct cultures did not cause any unfavourable sensory characteristic in white cheese. Adjunct cultures indicated no negative effect on the survival rates of common cheese starters. Results indicated that white cheese is a suitable food matrix for the delivery of B. bifidum, therefore, white cheeses with B. bifidum should be considered as a probiotic product.Scientific and Technological Research Council of TurkeyTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [TOGTAG-3116]; Pamukkale University Research FundPamukkale University [2002-MHF-002]; Ege University Science-TechnologyEge University [2002-BIL-009]; Pinar Sut Mamulleri Sanayii; Omur Sut Mamulleri LtdThis research was supported by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TOGTAG-3116), Pamukkale University Research Fund (2002-MHF-002), Ege University Science-Technology Application and Research Centre (2002-BIL-009), Pinar Sut Mamulleri Sanayii A.S. (Izmir, Turkey) and Omur Sut Mamulleri Ltd. Sti. (Aydin, Turkey). The authors are grateful to Dr. Alejandro P. Rooney (NRRL, USA) and Nilay Yildiri