The use of cold plasma technology in solving the mold problem in Kashar cheese.

In this study, the possibilities of using cold plasma technology in solving the mold problem, which is one of the most important problems in Kashar cheese, were investigated. For this purpose Kashar cheeses were exposed to cold plasma with different gas compositions. As a result of the study 3-4 log reduction was achieved for both Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium crysogenum. The pH and aw values of samples were decreased with cold plasma application. The b* values of samples increased while L* and a* values decreased. When all the results obtained are considered as a whole, it can be said that cold plasma technology improves the physicochemical properties of Kashar cheese and provides significant decrease in mold count of the product.

Effects of the probiotic bacteria on the quality properties of mozzarella cheese produced from different milk.

The aim of the study was evaluating the effect of probiotic bacteria on chemical values, texture profile and sensory attributes of Mozzarella cheese which produced from cow and buffalo milk during the storage. The acidity, dry matter content, amount of protein and ripening index of sample increased throughout the storage (P < 0.05). Storage time influenced acidity, dry matter content, amount of protein and ripening index of samples (P < 0.001). Lightness and redness decreased while yellowness increased (P < 0.05). Storage time influenced lightness and yellowness of samples (P < 0.001). TPA parameters increased. The count of Lactobacillus acidophilus increased during the storage (P < 0.05) but Bifidobacterium lactis spp. animalis count increased first 14 days of storage and later decreased (P < 0.05). The samples produced from buffalo milk by adding probiotic bacteria had the highest sensory scores.

Determination of sensitivity of some food pathogens to spice extracts.

Spices are primarily used as flavor enhancers and have attracted attention as natural food preservatives since their antimicrobial effects were determined. In the present study, the antimicrobial effects, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values on 5 important food-borne pathogenic bacteria were investigated in 20 different types of spices that are not commonly used. The results indicated that Hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa) was the most effective against Listeria monocytogenes (26.37 mm zone diameter) and Staphylococcus aureus (24.15 mm zone diameter) (P < 0.05) followed by the chebulic myrobalan (Terminalia chebula) (21.34 ± 0.35 and 23.85 ± 1.69 mm diameter zone respectively) (P < 0.05). Likewise, Hibiscus (H. sabdariffa) showed the lowest MICs and MBCs concentration values on five important food-borne pathogens (L. monocytogenes) MIC; 0.187 mg/L, MBC; 0. Thus, this study determined that spices with antimicrobial activities can be used as natural preservatives.

The effect of solution plasma treatment on the microbial safety and quality characteristics of albumen.

The aim of this study was to make eggs microbially safe and increase their durability without damaging the functional properties of the albumen and preserving the solubility of its proteins as much as possible by the solution plasma technique. The pH, Brix, density, and viscosity values of samples decreased during treatment (p < .05 except pH). Although the L* and a* values of both the albumen and egg foam decreased, the b*, hue angle, and chroma values of both increased during treatment. The L* and a* values of the albumen decreased by 7.01 and 1.89 units, and the values of the egg foam decreased by 10.93 and 1.03 units, respectively. At the end of the treatment, foaming capacity and foam stability were decreased by 25% and 21.42%, respectively. Foaming capacity values obtained as a result of this treatment were higher and foam stability values were lower compared to the values obtained in pasteurization of eggs by heat treatment. The count of the two pathogenic bacteria inoculated into the albumen decreased during the treatment (p < .05), the count of Salmonella Enteritidis decreased to 0, and the count of Staphylococcus aureus decreased by 1.09 log cfu/g at the end of the treatment. Compared to current heat treatments, solution plasma treatment caused significantly less adverse effects on albumen quality characteristics. In particular, the foaming properties of the albumen were much less affected by this method and remained at higher values compared to the values achieved by other methods. The treatment also produced a microbiologically safer product.

Quality specification of ice creams produced with different homofermentative lactic acid bacteria.

This study investigated the changes in the physicochemical, microbiological, textural, and nutritional values of ice cream produced by various methods with the addition of different lactic acid bacteria. Adding lactic acid bacteria to the ice cream mix caused a decrease in firmness, consistency, cohesiveness, index of viscosity, pH, aw, first drop, complete melting, and overrun values (p < .05). These decreases were more pronounced in the samples to which lactic acid bacteria were added before mix maturation (p < .05). Firmness and consistency values varied between 15.11-16.26 (g) and 374.58-404.91 (g s), respectively, in the samples to which lactic acid bacteria were added before maturation. No significant effect of the addition of lactic acid bacteria to the ice cream mix on the L*, a*, and b* values of the bacteria before or after mix maturation was detected (p > .05). The L* values of the samples varied between 88.91 and 83.36, a* values between 0.76 and 1.32, and b* values between 6.57 and 8.38. An increase was detected in the amount of organic acid (excluding formic acid) in the samples produced with the addition of different lactic acid bacteria (p < .05). The number of fatty acids in the samples varied depending on the lactic acid addition and the production method; the rate of this change was generally higher in the samples with added lactic acid bacteria after mix maturation (p < .05). In particular, the amounts of short- and medium-chain fatty acids increased in the samples with lactic acid bacteria added after mix ripening, compared to the control sample.

The effect of resin coating on the quality characteristics of chicken eggs during storage.

In this study, after washing, changes in the quality characteristics of chicken eggs coated with apricot, almond, and sour cherry tree resins were examined during two different temperatures (4 °C and 22 °C) storage for 60 days. While air cell height, weight loss, albumen and yolk pH and a* (redness) values increased in all samples during storage, Haugh unit, albumen and yolk index, shell fracture and vitelline membrane strength, albumen and yolk L* (lightness) and b* (yellowness) values decreased (P < 0.05). The lowest weight loss (0.54 g) and air cell height (2.89 mm), highest Haugh unit (73.95 HU), albumen index (8.81%), and yolk index (40.37%) were found in the samples coated with sour cherry wood resin stored at 4 °C. The shell breakage and vitelline membrane strength of the coated samples were determined to be higher than the control samples and the samples stored after washing. Higher weight loss, air cell height, and pH values, while lower Haugh unit, Albumen and yolk index were found in samples stored at 22 °C (P < 0.05). At the end of storage, the maximum increase in the counts of total aerobic mesophilic and psychrophilic bacteria was found in the albumin and egg yolk of washed samples stored at ambient temperature. As a result, the coating materials prepared with the resin of apricot, almond, and sour cherry trees were suitable for eggshell's shelf life extension. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The consumers demand the eggs be in their freshest condition, but the currently available storage conditions are not sufficient to maintain freshness in many regions of Turkey. The physical, chemical and, microbiological qualities of the eggs coated with wood resins were determined to be superior compared to other samples. Because resins have good barrier properties, it is recommended to conduct extensive studies on their applicability in different products.

The effects of packaging materials on the fatty acid composition, organic acid content, and texture profiles of Tulum cheese.

In this research, Erzincan Tulum cheese was packaged in its original packaging material, the skin bag, small intestine, and appendix to observe the changes in its physical, chemical, and textural properties during storage day. Lactic acid% values increased in all Tulum cheeses throughout storage stage. At the end of the storage period, the highest value was determined in the sample filled in the small intestine (20.10%). All fatty acid values were increased, and the highest increase was identified in oleic acid (C 18:1) (skin bag 2.18%), linoleic acid (18:2) (appendix 0.41%), and palmitic acid (C 16:0) (small intestine 0.34%), respectively. All organic acids increased in stored sample. The highest increase among organic acids was determined to be 4.47% in lactic acid. As a result of the Texture Profile Analyses (TPA), the hardness, and adhesiveness of Tulum cheeses increased during storage periods, whereas the springiness, cohesiveness, and chewiness values decreased. Gumminess value declined in the sample filled into the appendix (with a value of 36.01), whereas it increased in the other two samples. The highest increase in hardness values was 2,520.27 N at given storage time was in the samples filled into appendix while the highest adhesive values of -49.82 were determined in the sample filled into small intestine. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Tulum cheese is usually produced by filling sheep or goat skin bag. Goat or sheep skin bag are not always available, and the amount of cheese produced in them is excessive. Therefore, cheeses were also filled to small intestine and appendix. At the end of the study, there were no negative effects on cheeses filled with intestine and appendix. The use of small intestine and appendix has helped to develop a product that will be appreciated by the consumers with no adverse effects in the physicochemical and textural properties of cheese.

Determination of the Effect of Different Ground Mustard Seeds on Quality Characteristics of Meatballs.

This study investigated the effect of yellow, black, and brown mustard seeds on color, lipid oxidation (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances [TBARS]), and micro-biological and sensory qualities of meatballs during storage. Heat treatment of mustard seeds affected the TBARS value of meatball samples (p<0.0001). The addition of mustard seeds decreased TBARS value of meatball samples (p<0.0001). Heat treatment of mustard seeds decreased the L*, a* and b* values of meatball samples (p<0.0001). The meatball samples with mustard seeds increased b* value of meatball samples however it decreased a* value of meatball samples (p<0.0001). The addition of mustard seeds decreased aerobic mesophilic bacteria count (p<0.0001), Enterobacteriaceae count (p<0.0001), psychrophilic bacteria count (p<0.0001) and yeast and mold count of meatball samples (p<0.0001). On a given storage day, the yellow mustard added meatballs sample was given higher color, appearance, flavor, acceptability ratings than those added black and brown mustard. Regarding sensory and microbiological properties, mustard seed contributed to microbiological quality and sensorial properties of meatball samples.

Determination of Potential Antimicrobial Activities of some Local Berries Fruits in Kombucha Tea Production

Abstract In this study, physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory properties, antibacterial and antifungal effects of kombucha teas produced with some small berry fruits (blackberry, raspberry, and red goji berry) were investigated. During fermentation, titratable acidity and pellicle biomass weights increased whereas water activity, brix, viscosity, L* and b* values decreased. At the end of fermentation, the highest minerals determined in the samples were potassium and magnesium. Also, catechin and gallic acid were detected in all samples. Samples produced with blackberry were the most appreciated ones in all criteria. The highest antibacterial and antifungal effects were determined in samples containing blackberries on Staphylococcus aureus and Rhizopus nigricans (24.36 and 20.53 mm zone diameters). The antibacterial effect, MIC, and MBC values (0.023 and 0.016 mg/L) on Staphylococcus aureus. Regarding the antifungal effect, the MIC and MFC values were determined in tea produced with blackberry on Rhizopus nigricans with 0.035 mg/L, and 0.023 mg/L.