The present invention relates to a direct vat set starter culture composition comprising lactic acid bacteria comprising a manganese transporter for fermenting a food product and for inhibiting or delaying growth of fungi in said food product, characterized in that the composition comprises up to 600 ppm of manganese.

Described is a method to inhibit browning in aged cheeses and the resulting aged cheese. The method includes the step of adding to a fresh cheese during its manufacture an amount of a reducing agent, wherein the amount of added reducing agent is effective to inhibit methylglyoxal-mediated browning of the cheese as it ages.

Described is a method to inhibit browning in aged cheeses and the resulting aged cheese. The method includes the step of adding to a fresh cheese during its manufacture an amount of a reducing agent, wherein the amount of added reducing agent is effective to inhibit methylglyoxal-mediated browning of the cheese as it ages.

An assembly is provided for turning a food product into slices of food product. The assembly includes a microbial treatment assembly configured to move the food product along a path, and a microbial intervention apparatus configured to substantially reduce an amount of microbes on an exterior surface of the food product while the food product is traveling along the path, a slicing machine downstream of the microbial treatment assembly, the slicing machine being configured to slice the food product into slices, an enclosure in which the slicing machine is positioned, the enclosure being sealed from outside atmosphere, and a microbial treatment apparatus in communication with the enclosure and configured to deter the growth of microbes on the food product.

Disclosed herein is a method for producing a package of cheese shreds. Cheese shreds and anticaking agent are mixed at a load between 2 wt. % and 10 wt. % in relation to the cheese shreds to form anticake-coated cheese shreds. The anticaking agent comprises 15-30 wt. % reducing sugar; 0.2-0.8 wt. % glucose oxidase; and 0.5-2 wt. % salt chosen from sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and magnesium chloride. The anticake-coated cheese shreds are then sealed into a package without modifying the atmosphere in the package or using an inert gas flush.

Disclosed herein is a method for producing a package of cheese shreds. Cheese shreds and anticaking agent are mixed at a load between 2 wt. % and 10 wt. % in relation to the cheese shreds to form anticake-coated cheese shreds. The anticaking agent comprises 15-30 wt. % reducing sugar; 0.2-0.8 wt. % glucose oxidase; and 0.5-2 wt. % salt chosen from sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and magnesium chloride. The anticake-coated cheese shreds are then sealed into a package without modifying the atmosphere in the package or using an inert gas flush.

Disclosed herein is a method for producing a package of cheese shreds. Cheese shreds and anticaking agent are mixed at a load between 2 wt. % and 10 wt. % in relation to the cheese shreds to form anticake-coated cheese shreds. The anticaking agent comprises 15-30 wt. % reducing sugar; 0.2-0.8 wt. % glucose oxidase; and 0.5-2 wt. % salt chosen from sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and magnesium chloride. The anticake-coated cheese shreds are then sealed into a package without modifying the atmosphere in the package or using an inert gas flush.

Disclosed herein is a method for producing a package of cheese shreds. Cheese shreds and anticaking agent are mixed at a load between 2 wt. % and 10 wt. % in relation to the cheese shreds to form anticake-coated cheese shreds. The anticaking agent comprises 15-30 wt. % reducing sugar; 0.2-0.8 wt. % glucose oxidase; and 0.5-2 wt. % salt chosen from sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and magnesium chloride. The anticake-coated cheese shreds are then sealed into a package without modifying the atmosphere in the package or using an inert gas flush.

Disclosed herein is a method for producing a package of cheese shreds. Cheese shreds and anticaking agent are mixed at a load between 2 wt. % and 10 wt. % in relation to the cheese shreds to form anticake-coated cheese shreds. The anticaking agent comprises 15-30 wt. % reducing sugar; 0.2-0.8 wt. % glucose oxidase; and 0.5-2 wt. % salt chosen from sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and magnesium chloride. The anticake-coated cheese shreds are then sealed into a package without modifying the atmosphere in the package or using an inert gas flush.

Disclosed herein is a method for producing a package of cheese shreds. Cheese shreds and anticaking agent are mixed at a load between 2 wt. % and 10 wt. % in relation to the cheese shreds to form anticake-coated cheese shreds. The anticaking agent comprises 15-30 wt. % reducing sugar; 0.2-0.8 wt. % glucose oxidase; and 0.5-2 wt. % salt chosen from sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and magnesium chloride. The anticake-coated cheese shreds are then sealed into a package without modifying the atmosphere in the package or using an inert gas flush.