Assessment of Aflatoxin M1 and M2 exposure risk through Oaxaca cheese consumption in southeastern Mexico.

The present study evaluated the exposure of Southeast Mexican population to Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) and M2 (AFM2) through the consumption of Oaxaca cheese. The intake of Oaxaca cheese was assessed via a food 7-day dairy questionnaire (N = 1100, 2014 and 2015). Thirty Oaxaca cheeses were randomly sampled, and the origin of the samples was also investigated. AFM1 and AFM2 were quantified by HPLC-FD. The exposure was assessed through the combination of the Probabilistic Density Functions (probabilistic approach). The percentage of the population at risk was calculated through the population exceeding the toxicological reference values (TDI). The risk assessment revealed that the population at higher risk to AFM1 and AFM2 was the children, followed by the adolescents and adult women. To our knowledge, the present study is the first to assess the exposure risk of different age groups of a population to AFM1 and AFM2 through the consumption of cheese.

Changes in quality of nonaged pasta filata Mexican cheese during refrigerated vacuum storage.

Six batches of Oaxaca cheese (a Mexican pasta filata cheese) from 3 dairy plants were sampled and vacuum-packaged at 8°C up to 24d. Counts of principal microbial groups, pH, levels of sugars, organic acids, lipolytic and proteolytic indices, and texture, color, and meltability values of cheeses were studied at d 1, 8, 16 and 24 of storage. A descriptive sensory analysis of selected taste, odor, and texture characteristics was also carried out. The main changes in the cheeses during the storage were decreases in pH, hardness, elasticity, and whiteness, and an increase in meltability. Neither lipolytic nor proteolytic activities were evident during the storage of cheeses. Storage time resulted in a gradual quality loss of unmelted cheeses. This loss of quality might be related to the decrease of hardness and the appearance off-flavors.

Caracterización de la microbiota nativa del queso Oaxaca tradicional en tres fases de elaboración / Characterization of the native microflora of traditional Oaxaca cheese in three phases of production

El queso Oaxaca tradicional goza de gran reconocimiento y consumo a nivel nacional, al ser elaborado con leche cruda de vaca es considerado como factor de riesgo para la salud, sin embargo, contiene flora natural no patógena como las bacterias lácticas (BAL), que le proporciona características extraordinarias y su reconocida tipicidad siendo importante su caracterización. Se realizó el conteo, aislamiento y caracterización fenotípica (pruebas morfológicas, bioquímicas, factores de crecimiento y fermentación) de coliformes totales, BAL, levaduras y Staphylococcus spp.en las etapas de leche, cuajada y queso. Todos los recuentos se encontraron fuera de la normativa mexicana (NOM-243-SSA1-2010); se observó diferencia (p<0,05) entre la etapa de leche y queso para coliformes totales, BAL y levaduras. Se aislaron 43 cepas de BAL, 38 de coliformes, 24 de levaduras y 16 de Staphylococcus spp. El 72,1% de las BAL correspondió al género Lactococcus y el 27,9% a Lactobacillus, se detectó la presencia de E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus y Rhodotorula spp. Los resultados muestran deficientes prácticas de higiene en la elaboración de queso Oaxaca, siendo importante la identificación de la microbiota autóctona y monitoreo en toda la cadena productiva a fin de obtener un producto artesanal inocuo y de mejor calidad.

The traditional Oaxaca cheese is highly regarded nationally and its consumption, being made from raw cow’s milk is considered as a risk factor to health, however is nonpathogenic natural flora and lactic acid bacteria (LAB), which provides unique characteristics and typicality recognized to be important characterization. Count was performed, isolation and phenotypic characterization (morphological and biochemical tests, growth factors and fermentation) of total coliforms, LAB, yeasts and Staphylococcus in the stages of milk, curd and cheese. All counts were found outside Mexican standards (NOM-243-SSA1-2010), was difference (p<0.05) between the stage of milk and cheese for total coliforms, LAB and yeasts. 43 strains were isolated from BAL, coliform 38, 24 yeasts, and 16 Staphylococcus. The 72.1% of the BAL corresponded to the genus Lactococcus and 27.9% for Lactobacillus, we detected the presence of E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Rhodotorula spp. The results show poor hygiene practices in Oaxaca cheese making and it is important to identify the indigenous microbiota and monitoring throughout the production chain in order to get a handmade product safe and of better quality.