Process for the production of starter cultures for the production of dairy products having predetermined properties, wherein the starter cultures are treated with pulsed electric fields (PEF) of rectangular monopolar high voltage pulses of a field strength of 0.2 to 1 kV/cm with a pulse duration of 5 to 8 ?s at a frequency of 1 to 21 Hz for 20 to 80 pulses, for each parameter respectively ?15% or ?10% or ?5%.

Pasta filata cheese products of the Mozzarella type are suggested, obtainable or obtained by: (a) subjecting milk to bactofugation or filtration, obtaining a bactofugate or a bacterial concentrate and a treated milk; (b) sterilising and, optionally, standardising the bactofugate or the bacterial concentrate obtained in step (b); (c) blending the treated milk of step (a) with the sterilised bactofugate or the bacterial concentrate of step (b); (d) coagulating the blended product of step (c) while adding starter cultures and/or rennet; (e) separating the coagulated milk of step (d) into whey and curd; (f) processing the whey with fine curd particles contained therein obtained in step (e) into a stable suspension; (g) subjecting the curd obtained in step (e) to heat treatment, and (h) shaping the heat-treated product of step (g),
wherein the suspension produced in step (f) is either added to the bactofugate or the bacterial concentrate obtained in step (a), or to the sterilised bactofugate or the bacterial concentrate obtained in step (b).

A process for the production of cheese is suggested, comprising or consisting of the following steps: (i) providing milk; (ii) coagulation of the milk while adding starter cultures and/or rennet material; (iii) separation of the coagulated milk of step (ii) into whey and curd; (iv) processing the whey obtained in step (iii) with fine curd particles contained therein into a stable suspension; and (v) further processing of the curd obtained in step (iii) into cheese, characterised in that (a) before the separation of whey and curd, the process contains a further step, wherein milk is subjected to filtration and/or bactofugation, obtaining a bacterial concentrate and a treated milk; (b) the bacterial concentrate obtained in step (a) is sterilised, and the sterilised bacterial concentrate is re-added to the treated milk; and (c) the suspension produced in step (iv) is either added to the bactofugate obtained in step (a), or is added to the sterilised bacterial concentrate obtained in step (b).

The invention relates to a method for preparing a partially cooked cheese product, as well as the partially cooked cheese product itself. The method appears applies specific times and temperatures to produce a pliable, carbohydrate free cheese product, which is free of carbohydrates. The product can be used, for example, as a carbohydrate free all cheese bread substitute in sandwich wraps or other applications.'

The present application relates to a microcapsule comprising a core comprising one or more hydrophobic agents dispersed in a gel matrix; a proteolytically-cleavable outer polymer shell surrounding said core; and an enzymatically-cleavable lipid layer between said core and said shell. Also described are methods of making and using the microcapsules.

The application is directed to a method to manufacture pasta-filata cheese based on cultures comprising or consisting of either 1) at least a galactose-positive Streptococcus thermophilus strain as defined herein or 2) at least a Streptococcus thermophilus strain and a Lactococcus lactis strain, and to a stretched curd or cheese produced by this method. The application is also directed to a culture or kit-of-part comprising or consisting of a) a galactose-positive Streptococcus thermophilus strain as defined herein, and b) Lactococcus strain(s) and/or Lactobacillus helveticus strain(s).

Equipment for the production of stuffed cheeses, particularly burrata cheese, the equipment (1) comprising: one base frame (2); supporting means (3) of a cheese (C) of the fresh pasta filata type associated with the base frame (2); gripping means (6) of the cheese (C) adapted to retain one portion (P) of the cheese (C); filling means (7) adapted to inject a stuffing inside the cheese (C) through the portion (P) to obtain a stuffed cheese (S); one mutual movement unit (20) between the supporting means (3) and the gripping means (6); and one mutual movement assembly (21) between the gripping means (6) and the filling means (7); wherein the gripping means (6) comprise at least one blade element (34) adapted to cut the portion (P) from the stuffed cheese (S).

Variants of chymosin with improved milk clotting properties.

Cheese products with improved flavor, texture and melting properties are disclosed. Topical application of a dairy powder, and in particular a cream cheese powder, to a cheese product improves not only dairy flavor when consumed cold, but unexpectedly also melted appearance, texture and taste.

Cheese products with improved flavor, texture and melting properties are disclosed. Topical application of a dairy powder, and in particular a cream cheese powder, to a cheese product improves not only dairy flavor when consumed cold, but unexpectedly also melted appearance, texture and taste.