Photo: Sean M.

Why did my mozzarella turned blue?

One of the main psychrotrophic organisms of concern in the dairy industry is Pseudomonas spp. which can cause spoilage defects. Among these defects are the blue discoloration produced by Pseudomonas fluorescens in dairy products like fresh mozzarella or queso fresco.

blogs.cornell.edu - Roses are Red, the Mozzarella is Blue… – Alcaine Research Group

Does urine smell with kidney infection?

Kidney stones that are moving into or from the kidneys can cause an infection somewhere in the urinary tract. This infection will affect the urine,...

Last updated Jul 22, 2020

What is the hardest exercise for belly fat?

So in order to get flat abs and burn belly fat, here are five exercises, that according to Kayla Itsines, are some of the most difficult ones to...

Last updated Nov 26, 2021

Promotion

RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT: Topical application of lactose oxidase to inhibit spoilage microbes that cause blue discoloration of mozzarella cheese

Blue discoloration of mozzarella cheese. Image retrieved from: https://foodinitaly.wordpress.com/2010/10/08/news-blue-mozzarella/

This week, we are highlighting the work of MPS student, Pablo Torres. He is investigating enzymatic-preservation techniques to stop mozzarella cheese from turning blue! In 2010, over 70,000 mozzarella balls in Italy turned blue as a result of bacterial contamination that created a blue discoloration on the fresh cheese [1]. It was quite a spectacle! Microbial contamination is one of the largest factors adversely affecting the profitability of the dairy industry, as it shortens the shelf life and increases waste. Mozzarella is produced via the pasta-filata, or stretched curd, technique that is done in high temperature water. The curd is mechanically stretched to obtain its unique textural and melting characteristics. Once the mozzarella is formed, it is susceptible to bacteria that can grow at refrigeration temperatures, or psychrotrophic bacteria. One of the main psychrotrophic organisms of concern in the dairy industry is Pseudomonas spp. which can cause spoilage defects. Among these defects are the blue discoloration produced by Pseudomonas fluorescens in dairy products like fresh mozzarella or queso fresco. This blue discoloration has also been observed in non-dairy products like salmon or rabbit meat! So, what are some ways that we can stop the cheese from getting this blue defect? Enzyme-based preservation technologies have been a novel method for preservation in the dairy industry. Enzymatic preservation can be a clean label approach to reduce spoilage and extend shelf life. An enzyme of interest is lactose oxidase, a naturally derived enzyme that hydrolyzes milk sugar into lactobionic acid and reduces oxygen to hydrogen peroxide. This can potentially work as an antimicrobial against Pseudomonas fluorescens and stop the formation of the blue pigment. To analyze if lactose oxidase can reduce the blue discoloration, Pablo topically applies lactose oxidase to cheese that has been contaminated with Pseudomonas fluorescens. Throughout the duration of the experiment, he takes photos of the mozzarella and compares the treatments to a control sample. A software is used to quantify color using the CIE, or L*a*b* color space. Colors are measured on a scale for values of L*, a*, and b* which are determined by the color wheel of human vision. L* represents the lightness of a sample, 0 representing black and 100 pure white, a* quantifies the green-red scale, and the b* axis representing blue-yellow values. With the data provided by the software, a comparison between the treatment samples and the control can be made to determine if the lactose oxidase is effective at reducing the bacteria that cause the blue discoloration. So far, lactose oxidase has been an effective enzymatic-preservation technique, resulting in reduced blue color in treated samples!

[1] Greenhalgh, M. (2010). Bacterial Contamination Caused Blue Mozzarella. Retrieved from: https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2010/06/bacterial-contamination-caused-blue-mozzarella/

Is hummus allowed on keto?

Hummus can definitely be part of your keto diet, but just one or two servings can quickly expend a significant portion of your daily carb...

Last updated Jul 12, 2022

Can you skip a day on keto diet?

The bottom line. You should avoid cheat meals and days on the keto diet. Consuming too many carbs can kick your body out of ketosis — and it takes...

Last updated Jan 10, 2021

Promotion

Is mozzarella cheese anti inflammatory?

Cheese contains saturated fats, which can promote inflammatory processes in the body. But other dietary fats, such as omega-3s and monounsaturated fats, have anti-inflammatory effects.

nutritionovereasy.com - Does cheese cause inflammation? | Nutrition Over Easy

Q. Can you eat cheese on an anti-inflammatory diet?

A. Although dietary choices can affect the level of inflammation in your body, it’s too simple to say that a single food or nutrient “causes” inflammation. Cheese contains saturated fats, which can promote inflammatory processes in the body. But other dietary fats, such as omega-3s and monounsaturated fats, have anti-inflammatory effects. So a diet that contains plenty olive oil and a bit of cheese probably isn’t pro-inflammatory. But a diet that contains lots of coconut oil (which is also high in saturated fat) plus a bit of cheese might be.

[bctt tweet=”No food or nutrient causes inflammation in a vacuum.” username=”nutritiondiva”]

And there are lots of other dietary factors that impact inflammation besides the type of fat. Refined carbohydrates are likely to promote inflammation, for example. Antioxidant rich vegetables and spices tend to be anti-inflammatory. As I talked about in a recent episode of the Nutrition Diva podcast, it’s almost impossible to answer the question “Is ______ good/bad for me?” without considering how much you’re eating, what else you’re eating, and what you would be eating if you weren’t eating ______ instead! Although I wouldn’t consider cheese to be an anti-inflammatory food, per se, I think there’s certainly room for moderate amount of cheese in a healthy and anti-inflammatory diet. (Thank goodness!) If you’re interested in learning more about anti-inflammatory diets, I recently offered an online course on this topic. There’s more information on the course here, if you’d like to check that out.

Can oversleeping cause weight gain?

Sleeping too much or too little could make you weigh too much, as well. One recent study showed that people who slept for nine or 10 hours every...

Last updated Mar 16, 2022

What should my blood sugar be when I wake up?

What should your blood sugar be when you wake up? Whenever possible, aim to keep your glucose levels in range between 70 and 130 mg/dL in the...

Last updated May 12, 2020

Promotion

How many days of fasting does it take to get into ketosis?

Similar to a Ketogenic Diet, fat is being broken down into fatty acids and ketones, a state of ketosis is achieved. If one's glycogen reserves are...

Last updated Jan 24, 2019

Promotion

How do you expel fat cells?

How to Get Rid of Body Fat Diet and Exercise. The prescription to lose one kg of fat is simple and written in stone: you must reduce your weekly...

Last updated Mar 22, 2018