The effect of a protective culture and exclusion of nitrate on the survival of enterohemorrhagic E. coli and Listeria in Edam cheese made from Finnish organic milk

This study also determined the effects of the exclusion of nitrate and the introduction of a protective culture on the microbiological safety and the counts of Listeria and non-pathogenic enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) in organic Edam cheese. Nitrate failed to inhibit the growth of EHEC and Listeria. Thus, compared to Edam cheese from conventional milk, Edam cheese from organic milk without added KNO3 poses no additional health risk with respect to Listeria and EHEC. The use of a protective culture containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus LC705, however, inhibited the growth of Listeria in Edam cheeses from organic milk.