The effect of milk concentration by ultrafiltration on the chemical composition and proteolysis of low fat Minas Frescal cheese during refrigerated storage was determined. Three batches of cheese were made in one day using milk concentrated by ultrafiltration at three different concentration factors (CF): 2:1, 3:1 and 4:1. Cheese making was replicated on a different day. Protein breakdown, as well as pH and titratable acidity changes, were monitored during cheese storage for 2, 10, 20 and 30 days. It was observed that pH decreased with time, while titratable acidity and protein breakdown increased. The different concentration factors tested did not significantly change cheese composition and proteolysis, which means that the inclusion of whey proteins did not inhibit rennet proteolytic activity as expected. This leads us to believe that potential advantages associated with the use of ultrafiltration retentates in cheesemaking were compensated by negative effects related to the high humidity level of low fat cheese made from ultrafiltration retentates. Consequently, the shelf-life of this typically Brazilian cheese was lower than that of cheese made by conventional procedures.
fresh cheese; membrane technology; light food; proteolysis
