A sanitized cheese plant was swabbed for the presence of nonstarter @entity880 bacteria (NSLAB) biofilms. Swabs were analyzed to determine the sources and microorganisms responsible for contamination. In pilot plant experiments, cheese vats filled with standard cheese milk ( @entity1132 :protein = 1.47) and ultrafiltered cheese milk ( @entity1132 :protein = 1.23) were inoculated with @entity7878 ssp. cremoris starter culture (8 log cfu/mL) with or without @entity20201 or Pediococci acidilactici as adjunct cultures (2 log cfu/mL). Cheddar cheeses were aged at 7.2 or 10 degrees C for 168 d. The raw milk silo, ultrafiltration unit, cheddaring belt, and cheese tower had NSLAB biofilms ranging from 2 to 4 log cfu/100 cm2. The population of Lb. @entity20201 reached 8 log cfu/g, whereas @entity6376 reached 7 log cfu/g of experimental Cheddar cheese in 14 d. Higher NSLAB counts were observed in the first 14 d of aging in cheese stored at 10 degrees C compared with that stored at 7.2 degrees C. However, microbial counts decreased more quickly in Cheddar cheeses aged at 10 degrees C compared with 7.2 degrees C after 28 d. In cheeses without specific adjunct cultures (Lb. @entity20201 or @entity6376 ), @entity25985 crystals were not observed within 168 d. However, crystals were observed after only 56 d in cheeses containing Lb. @entity20201 , which also had increased concentration of @entity23599 compared with control cheeses. Our research shows that low levels of contamination with certain NSLAB can result in @entity25985 crystals, regardless of @entity1132 :protein ratio.

Nonstarter @entity880 bacteria biofilms and XXXX crystals in Cheddar cheese.

@entity25985 :: ('MESH:C110051', 'Chemical') :: ['calcium lactate'] @entity6376 :: ('1254', 'Species') :: ['P. acidilactici'] @entity1132 :: ('MESH:D007785', 'Chemical') :: ['lactose'] @entity20201 :: ('28038', 'Species') :: ['Lactobacillus curvatus', 'curvatus'] @entity880 :: ('MESH:D019344', 'Chemical') :: ['lactic acid'] @entity23599 :: ('CHEBI:42111', 'Chemical') :: ['D(-)-lactic acid'] @entity7878 :: ('1358', 'Species') :: ['Lactococcus lactis']
@entity25985 :: (MESH:C110051,Chemical) :: ['calcium lactate']
