Microbiological Quality of Asadero Cheese Manufactured with a Plant Based Coagulant from <i>Solanum elaeagnifolium</i>

Abstract

In Chihuahua, north Mexico, the berries of Solanum elaeagnifolium (trompillo or silverleaf nightshade) have been used in the manufacture of artisanal filata-type asadero cheese. Solanum elaeagnifolium is a wild plant that possesses proteases in its fruit; those enzymes exhibit general proteolytic activities, which are useful in traditional asadero cheesemaking as a rennet substitute. These type of cheese is softer than those made with rennin or chymosin due to their water content and proteolysis. Thus, the aim of this work was to explore microbiological susceptibility of asadero cheese made with an extract from ripe berries and compared with those elaborated with commercial rennet. Crude extract of such fruit was obtained by salting out with ammonium sulfate (40%). Cheeses were obtained by a standardized process only changing the enzyme, packaged in plastic bag or vacuum bag and storage at 4 ℃ - 6 ℃ . The study included the analysis of spoilage bacteria (total aerobic count, yeasts and molds), indicators of hygiene (total coliforms and E. coli ) and fecal contamination (fecal coliforms) after 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of production. Although cheese made with S. elaeagnifolium had lower microbial growth, the aerobic count and yeasts and molds count of all cheese samples showing a 28 days shelf life. Total coliforms, in limits beyond the established ones by the Mexican legislation for human consumption with no effect of the enzyme type used for production, as well as for fecal coliforms. Differences were detected just for packaged method, suggesting that good manufacturing practices take place not the plant coagulant.