Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of six typical Brazilian cheeses (bovine milk coalho, goat milk coalho, fresh ricotta, manteiga, fresh Minas, and Padrão Minas). Padrão Minas cheese presented high acidity and the highest contents of protein, fat, and ash, while Ricotta cheese presented the lowest contents of protein, fat, and ash. Bovine milk coalho and Minas fresh cheeses were characterized as source of zinc. Manteiga cheese was characterized by the yellow color (higher b* values). Goat milk coalho cheese was characterized by the white color (higher L* values) and presented the highest concentration of minerals (potassium, iron, magnesium, calcium, manganese, and phosphorus). Part of the typical Brazilian cheeses did not agree with the legislation for moisture (5.9%) and fat in the dry matter (11.8%) classifications, as well as, did not have adequate concentrations of protein (65.4%) and fat (44.9%) stated in the label, being the non-conformity dependent on the cheese type. Furthermore, 30% of the cheeses (30%) disagreed with the microbiological Brazilian legislation, as they presented coliforms and/or coagulase-positive Staphylococcus counts above the limits. It can be concluded that the Brazilian cheeses are nutritive, but the microbial quality and nutritional labels need improvement.

Over the past few years, the use of probiotics, which are capable of exerting beneficial effects on the composition of intestinal microbiota, has increased. Cheeses have been suggested as a better carrier of probiotic bacteria than other fermented milk products. The effect of added cultures of probiotic lactic acid bacteria on the quality of a Brazilian goat semi-hard cheese (coalho) was assessed during 21 days of storage at 10 ºC as follows: C1, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis and L. lactis subsp. Cremoris (standard cheese); C2, Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA-5); C3, Lactobacillus paracasei (Lactobacillus casei-01); C4, BBifidobacterium lactis (BB12); and C5, L. acidophilus, L. paracasei and B. lactis. Differences in some physico-chemical, experimental texture and proteolysis parameters were found among the assessed cheeses. All of them presented high luminosity (L*) with predominance of the yellow component (b*). Numbers of lactic acid bacteria in the cheeses were greater than 10(7) cfu g-1 during storage. Cheeses with the added probiotic strains alone and in co-culture were better accepted than cheeses without the probiotic strains. It is suggested that goat "coalho" cheese could be a potential carrier of probiotic lactic acid bacteria.

Este estudo teve como objetivo realizar a caracterização físico-química, microbiológica e sensorial do queijo de leite de cabra tipo Coalho condimentado com cumaru (Amburana cearensis A.C. Smith), produzido na Região do Cariri do Estado da Paraíba, Brasil. Os valores médios obtidos para umidade, proteínas, lipídeos, gordura em extrato seco, cinzas e acidez em ácido lático foram de 46,5; 23,9; 25,3; 47,5; 3,8; 0,09%, respectivamente. Todas as amostras apresentaram contagem de coliformes totais > 2,4 × 10³ NMP.g-1 e coliformes fecais oscilando entre 0,3 × 10¹ e > 2,0 × 10³ NMP.g-1. Não foi detectada presença de Salmonella. Para as contagens de mesófilos, fungos e Staphylococcus coagulase positiva, foram encontrados valores entre 3,7 × 10(4) e 5,6 × 10(8); 4,6 × 10² e 5,2 × 10(9); < 10¹ e 8,0 × 10(5) UFC.g-1, respectivamente. Os testes sensoriais revelaram boa aceitação geral, bem como satisfatório resultado na intenção de compra do produto. A boa aceitação do queijo mostra seu potencial de ampliação de consumo. Entretanto, os resultados das análises microbiológicas ressaltam a necessidade de melhor monitoramento das etapas envolvidas no seu processamento, com o intuito de obter um produto de melhor qualidade microbiológica.

This study aimed to carry out the physicochemical, microbiological and sensory characterization of coalho-like goat's milk cheese with added coumarou (Amburana cearensis A.C. Smith), manufactured in the Cariri region, Paraíba State, Brazil. The average values obtained for moisture, protein, fat, fat in the dry extract, ash and acidity as lactic acid were 46.5; 23.9; 25.3; 47.5; 3.8 and 0.09%, respectively. All the samples analyzed presented total coliform counts > 2.4 x 10³ MPN.g-1, while the faecal coliforms ranged between 0.3 x 10¹ - > 2.0 x 10³ MPN.g-1. Salmonella was not found in any of the samples. The mesophilic, fungal and coagulase-positive Staphylococcal counts were between 3.7 x 10(4)-5.6 x 10(8); 4.6 x 10²-5.2 x 10(9); and > 10¹-8.0 x 10(5) CFU.g-1, respectively. The sensory tests showed good acceptance of the product assessed and satisfactory results for purchasing intent. The good acceptance of the cheeses evaluated showed the potential for increased consumption. However, the results of the microbiological analyses showed the need for better monitoring of the steps involved in its processing, in order to obtain a product with better microbiological quality.