Pasteurized milk with 1.3% fat was used in the preparation of "prato" cheese, with the addition of the probiotic microorganism Lactobacillus rhamnosus, fibers, and partial substitution of sodium chloride by a 60% potassium lactate solution. The aim of this work was to follow the development of lactic bacteria and the evolution of pH, lactose content and acidity during storage for 90 days, at 6 °C, since not much information about the addition of such a probiotic in "prato" cheese is available. Cheese was prepared by the conventional method, followed by vacuum packing and storage. Analyses were carried out immediately after preparation and after 15, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 days of storage. The cheese formulated with the probiotic culture presented higher counts of lactic bacteria, higher pH and lactose content, but lower acidity than the cheese prepared without the probiotic.
cheese; potassium lactate; probiotics; fibers
