New cultures for fresh and tasty white brined cheese

“We know that consumers prefer a creamy, yoghurt-like flavor in their white brined cheese without compromising on the cheese texture,” explains Chr. Hansen’s Jamila Bouanda, Marketing Manager, Cheese Cultures. “The new DVS® SafeIT™ culture blends, which have been developed specifically for ultrafiltrated white brined cheese, secure a deliciously fresh and smooth flavor in the cheese as well as a firm, sliceable texture.”

The SafeIT™ range is a new member of Chr. Hansen’s renowned Direct Vat Set (DVS®) culture program. “Using DVS® cultures the unwanted characteristics of conventional ultrafiltrated white brined cheese — acid taste, gluey appearance and bitter taste — are avoided. The result is harmonious and delicious,” Jamila Bouanda says.

Attractive production benefits
Apart from the flavor and texture benefits, three properties make the SafeIT™ culture blends attractive to producers of white brined cheese.
“First, the cultures’ ability to ferment quicker reduces the process time. This allows cheese producers to increase the throughput in their cheese plants. Second, these cultures will provide extended shelf life for the cheese, keeping its exquisite taste and texture for 4-6 months. Finally, the strong bacteriophage resistance of certain mesophilic strains in the blends will minimize phage attacks and scrapping at the dairies,” says Jamila Bouanda.

Growing category
The white brined cheese category covers a variety of cheeses from feta in Greece to domiati in Egypt. 1.8 million tons of white brined cheese is produced annually, growing 5% a year. The category is expected to continue to experience strong growth as white brined cheese is increasingly a part of daily food in the Middle East and in South-East Europe.

The SafeIT™ culture range, which has been developed to appeal directly to Middle Eastern and South-East European taste buds, is presented at the industry trade show Food Ingredients Europe 2011 in Paris, France on November 29 – December 1, 2011 (stand number 2D31 in hall 2).

www.chr-hansen.com/FIE2011