Proteolysis of yogurts made from ultra-high-pressure homogenized milk during cold storage

Proteolysis was investigated in yogurts made from milk that was ultra-high-pressure homogenized at 200 or 300 MPa and at 30 or 40°C and compared with those produced from heat-treated milk containing 3% skim milk powder. To evaluate changes in the protein fraction, samples were analyzed at d 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 of storage for residual caseins, peptides, and total free amino acids. Results showed that yogurts from heat-treated milk and 300 MPa-treated milk presented similar levels of residual caseins, as well as similar profiles of soluble peptides and total free amino acids. On the contrary, greater amounts of hydrophobic peptides were detected in yogurts made from 200 MPa-treated milk at both 30 and 40°C, especially at the end of storage. In all treatments studied, caseins were hydrolyzed and hydrophobic peptides were increased during storage, as reflected by the increase in soluble nitrogen at the end of the storage.