Effect of high-pressure treatment of milk prior to manufacture on ripening of Camembert cheese

Camembert cheese was manufactured from raw bovine milk or bovine milk HP-treated at 500 MPa for 10 min. Moisture content of cheese increased and protein content and plasmin activity decreased due to HP-treatment of milk. After 15 days of ripening, more casein was broken down in the cheese manufactured from HP-treated milk. Sensory evaluation revealed no significant difference between the overall acceptability of Camembert cheese from raw milk and milk HP-treated at 500 MPa. Overall, this study showed that HP treatment of milk prior to Camembert cheese manufacture resulted in an altered cheese composition and ripening pattern, but with an acceptable sensory quality.Industrial RelevanceHigh-pressure treatment has been used commercially for the past 30 years to increase the shelf-life of premium highly perishable products, such as oysters, guacamole, fresh orange juices and, more recently, ham and cheese. Raw milk cheese can be linked to a number of food-related fatalities. The use of HP-treatment for soft cheese manufacture can result in “safe” cheese, as food-borne pathogens are inactivated; however, the cheese flavour is comparable to raw milk cheese.

Research Highlights
► Camembert cheese was manufactured from raw and high-pressure treated milk.
► Composition and ripening were examined for over 30 days of ripening.
► Camembert cheese composition was altered by high-pressure treatment.
► Sensory evaluation showed no differences between cheese types.