Toward the integration of expert knowledge and instrumental data to control food processes: Application to Camembert-type cheese ripening

Modeling the cheese ripening process remains a challenge because of its complexity. We still lack the knowledge necessary to understand the interactions that take place at different levels of scale during the process. However, information may be gathered from expert knowledge. Combining this expertise with knowledge extracted from experimental databases may allow a better understanding of the entire ripening process. The aim of this study was to elicit expert knowledge and to check its validity to assess the evolution of organoleptic quality during a dynamic food process: Camembert cheese ripening. Experiments on a pilot scale were carried out at different temperatures and relative humidities to obtain contrasting ripening kinetics. During these experiments, macroscopic evolution was evaluated from an expert's point of view and instrumental measurements were carried out to simultaneously monitor microbiological, physicochemical, and biochemical kinetics. A correlation of 76% was established between the microbiological, physicochemical, and biochemical data and the sensory phases measured according to expert knowledge, highlighting the validity of the experts' measurements. In the future, it is hoped that this expert knowledge may be integrated into food process models to build better decision-aid systems that will make it possible to preserve organoleptic qualities by linking them to other phenomena at the microscopic level

Preservation of Preservation of a smear surface-ripened cheese ecosystem by freezing and freeze-drying: a proof of concepta smear surface-ripened cheese ecosystem by freezing and freeze-drying: a proof of concept

Preservation of Preservation of a smear surface-ripened cheese ecosystem by freezing and freeze-drying: a proof of concepta smear surface-ripened cheese ecosystem by freezing and freeze-drying: a proof of concept. 7. Congress of European Microbiologists FEMS 201

Growth and colour development of some surface ripening bacteria with Debaryomyces hansenii on aseptic cheese curd

International audienceThe growth of five bacteria isolated from red-smear cheeses, Brevibacterium aurantiacum, Corynebacterium casei, Corynebacterium variabile, Microbacterium gubbeenense and Staphylococcus saprophyticus in mixed cultures with Debaryomyces hansenii on aseptic model cheese curd at 10 and 14 degrees C was investigated. At both temperatures, C. casei and Micro. gubbeenense had a longer lag phase than C. variabile, Brevi. aurantiacum and Staph. saprophyticus. In all cultures, lactose was utilised first and was consumed more rapidly at 14 degrees C than at 10 degrees C, i.e., 6 d at 14 degrees C and 10 d at 10 degrees C. This utilisation coincided with the exponential growth of Deb. hansenii on the cheese surface. Lactate was also used as a carbon source and was totally consumed after 21 d at 14 degrees C and approximately 90% was consumed after 21 d at 10 degrees C regardless of the ripening culture. Small differences (<0.5 pH unit) in the surface-pH during ripening were noticeable between ripening cultures. Differences in the colour development of the mixed cultures with the yeast control were only noticeable after 15 d for Brevi. aurantiacum and after 21 d for the other bacteria. Regardless of the organisms tested, colour development and colour intensity were also greater at 14 degrees C than at 10 degrees C. This study has provided useful information on the growth and contribution to colour development of these bacteria on cheese

Effet des paramètres d'ambiance dans les locaux d'affinage sur la qualité des fromages en conditions expérimentales au laboratoire et en locaux pilotes

Effet des paramètres d'ambiance dans les locaux d'affinage sur la qualité des fromages en conditions expérimentales au laboratoire et en locaux pilote

Overview of a surface-ripened cheese community functioning by meta-omics analyses

Cheese ripening is a complex biochemical process driven by microbial communities composed of both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Surface-ripened cheeses are widely consumed all over the world and are appreciated for their characteristic flavor. Microbial community composition has been studied for a long time on surface-ripened cheeses, but only limited knowledge has been acquired about its in situ metabolic activities. We applied metagenomic, metatranscriptomic and biochemical analyses to an experimental surface-ripened cheese composed of nine microbial species during four weeks of ripening. By combining all of the data, we were able to obtain an overview of the cheese maturation process and to better understand the metabolic activities of the different community members and their possible interactions. Furthermore, differential expression analysis was used to select a set of biomarker genes, providing a valuable tool that can be used to monitor the cheese-making process

L'affinage des fromages fermiers lactiques

L'affinage des fromages fermiers lactique

Qualité des fromages fermiers lactiques : locaux et maitrise de l’affinage (LACTAFF)

Le programme LACTAFF (2012 – 2015) a eu pour objectif d’améliorer la maîtrise de l’affinage des fromages fermiers lactiques, technologie la plus couramment utilisée à la ferme, en fournissant des outils et des références aux producteurs et aux techniciens qui les accompagnent. Des enquêtes menées dans 49 fermes des 6 principales régions produisant ce type de fromage ont permis de caractériser la grande diversité des fromages fabriqués, des locaux, des équipements et des pratiques et d’établir des liens entre les grandes catégories de fromages et les pratiques, locaux et conditions d’ambiance. Par ailleurs, au laboratoire et en fromageries expérimentales, le rôle clé de l’hygrométrie a été quantifié en affinage, ainsi qu’au séchage où la vitesse d’air joue un rôle encore plus important. Les effets des paramètres d’ambiance sur la composition physico-chimique et les caractéristiques sensorielles des fromages ont été quantifiés pour un type de fromage donné.The « LACTAFF » program (2012-2015) aimed at improving the control of goat lactic farmhouse cheese ripening, a technology frequently used by farmers, by producing tools and references for producers and the technicians guiding them. Surveys conducted in 49 farms in the 6 main regions producing this kind of cheeses allowed to characterize the great diversity of cheeses, premises, equipment and practices, and to link cheese categories with practices, premises characteristics and air production conditions. In laboratory and experimental dairies, the key role of humidity was quantified during ripening and during drying, in which air speed is even more important. Atmospheric parameters effects on cheeses physicochemical composition and sensory characteristics were quantified for one type of cheeses. Specialist experience of cheese technology, premises design and climate control equipment and technician experience were capitalized at the same time. This project led to the writing of technical documents available online and a book about lactic farmhouse cheeses ripening