This invention provides an IFN inducer comprising, as an active ingredient, lactic acid bacteria and capable of inducing IFN production, an immunopotentiating agent or prophylactic agent against virus infection comprising such inducer, and a food or drink product comprising such IFN inducer and having IFN-inducing activity, immunopotentiating activity, or prophylactic activity against virus infection. The agent for inducing IFN production comprises, as active ingredients, lactic acid bacteria that can activate plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) and promote IFN production, such as Lactococcus garvieae NBRC100934, Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris JCM16167, Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris NBRC100676, Lactococcus lactis subsp. hordniae JCM1180, Lactococcus lactis subsp. hordniae JCM11040, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis NBRC12007, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis NRIC1150, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis JCM5805, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis JCM20101, Leuconostoc lactis NBRC12455, Leuconostoc lactis NRIC1540, Pediococcus damnosus JCM5886, or Streptococcus thermophilus TA-45.

Disclosed are methods for producing cheeses having the desirable properties of process cheese, using phospholipase enzyme(s), without the addition of emulsifying salts to produce such cheeses. The methods of the invention allow a cheese processor to produce a reduced-sodium process-type cheese without losing the recognized meltability and texture of processed cheese.

A method is for manufacturing brine-salted cheese with a homogeneous salt distribution and/or organic acid distribution and/or eyes distribution and/or texture on one axis of the cheese. The method includes, before a brining, applying a hydrophobic barrier on the entire outer parts of the cheese, which are located at the ends of the cheese axis. The hydrophobic barrier is kept on the cheese outer parts at least during part of the brining.

Disclosed is a device for forming cheese blocks of dimensions that facilitate slicing without first having to larger cut blocks of cheese to appropriate dimensions. The device comprises: (a) a pipe adapter having a proximal end and a distal end; (b) a forming chamber of internal dimensions for forming a sliceable cheese loaf, wherein the forming chamber having a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein the proximal end is fluidly connected to the distal end of the pipe adapter; (c) a portal cover, positioned to open or close a portal located at the distal end of the forming chamber; (d) a packaging attachment adapter located at the distal end of the forming chamber; (e) a packaging support device supporting a package positioned to receive the cheese loaf.

Disclosed is a device for forming cheese blocks of dimensions that facilitate slicing without first having to larger cut blocks of cheese to appropriate dimensions. The device comprises: (a) a pipe adapter having a proximal end and a distal end; (b) a forming chamber of internal dimensions for forming a sliceable cheese loaf, wherein the forming chamber having a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein the proximal end is fluidly connected to the distal end of the pipe adapter; (c) a portal cover, positioned to open or close a portal located at the distal end of the forming chamber; (d) a packaging attachment adapter located at the distal end of the forming chamber; (e) a packaging support device supporting a package positioned to receive the cheese loaf.

A process for the reduction of Maillard reaction (and thereby browning) in a cheese food product, wherein the process comprises contacting the product with a hexose oxidase (EC1.1.3.5) and/or cellobiose oxidase (EC 1.1.99.18) enzyme.

The invention involves a method of producing cheese curd. The method includes the step of providing a composition including a milkfat fluid. The method includes the step of pasteurizing the composition including the milkfat fluid. The method adjusts the temperature of the composition including the milkfat fluid to a predefined temperature allowing separation of cultures. The method includes the step of combining the composition including the milkfat fluid with diluted acetic acid. The method combines diluted acetic acid, or derivatives. The method adds the diluted acetic acid, or the derivatives to the milkfat fluid adjusted at the predefined temperature to separate whey, or milkfat. The method removes the separated milkfat from the whey and dry to isolate the cheese curd. The method stabilizes the cheese curd and combines the stabilized cheese curd with the milkfat fluid. The method combines yogurt in the stabilized cheese curd to add protein. The cheese curd remains stabilized after combining the yogurt.

Provided is a strain CCFM8631 of Lactobacillus reuteri and use thereof. The strain CCFM8631 of Lactobacillus reuteri can significantly increase neurotransmitter 5-hydroxytryptamine level in peripheral blood, recover the hormone levels, for example testosterone and so on in peripheral blood of rat, normalize abnormal abundances of Blautia genus and Turicibacter genus, Oscillospira genus and Bifidobacterium genus in intestinal flora of rat affected by high-fat high-starch diet, show good tolerance to simulated gastrointestinal fluid and quickly colonize in intestinal, significantly improve pathological damages of tissues such as liver, duodenum and so on, and increase triglyceride and total cholesterol levels in serum and oral glucose tolerance of rat with metabolic syndrome caused by high-fat high-starch diet. The strain CCFM8631 of Lactobacillus reuteri can be used for preventing, relieving or treating metabolic disorder, such as metabolic syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome and mental diseases related to metabolic syndrome such as anxiety, depression and so on.

The object of the present invention is a mozzarella cheese obtained from a mixture of raw materials consisting of milk, rennet, salt and optionally lactic bacteria and having a high residual moisture content. Said mozzarella cheese can be obtained by means of a production method comprising a cooling step in air for cooling a sheet of mozzarella cheese.

The object of the present invention is a mozzarella cheese obtained from a mixture of raw materials consisting of milk, rennet, salt and optionally lactic bacteria and having a high residual moisture content. Said mozzarella cheese can be obtained by means of a production method comprising a cooling step in air for cooling a sheet of mozzarella cheese.