Selective enumeration of probiotic microorganisms in cheese

Area of Science:

• Food Microbiology
• Dairy Science
• Probiotics

Background:

• Cheese serves as a viable carrier for probiotic microorganisms, potentially delivering them to the human gut.
• Probiotics must maintain a minimum viable count (e.g., 10^6 colony-forming units per gram) in food until consumption to confer health benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review reliable methods for the selective enumeration of probiotic microorganisms in cheese.
• To discuss the importance of appropriate culture media selection for accurate probiotic quantification.

Main Methods:

• The review focuses on the principles of selective culture media for enumerating probiotic strains in cheese.
• Considerations for medium selection include the food matrix, target probiotic strains, and background microflora.

Main Results:

• The selection of a suitable culture medium is critical for the accurate enumeration of probiotics in cheese.
• Enumeration protocols must be tailored to the specific probiotic targets and the cheese's bacterial composition.

Conclusions:

• Reliable enumeration techniques are essential for validating the probiotic status of cheese products.
• Appropriate culture media and tailored protocols are key to ensuring the efficacy of probiotic-containing cheeses.