VARIATION OF PHYSICAL, CHEMICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BRINES APPLIED IN THE SALTING OF MOZZARELLA CHEESE DURING THE PERIOD OF UTILIZATION

Variation of the physical, chemical and microbiological characteristics of brines during their utilization for salting mozzarella cheese. Forty brine samples used for submersion salting of mozzarella cheese in a dairy industry in the State of S. Paulo, Brazil, were analysed for the purpose of discovering the variation in the physical, chemical and microbiological characteristics observed over their period of utilization. The mean values preparation up to the 21st day of utilization of pH, sodium chloride and protein concentration varied from 7.21 to 5.76, from 27.1 to 24.5 and from zero to 0.126 mg/ml, respectively over the period from their. The mean values of the mesophylic microorganism counts and of the total and fecal coliforms MPN varied from 5.8 x 10 CFU/ml to 6.9 x 10(4) CFU/ml, from zero to 1.6 x 10(5)/100ml and from zero to 1.1 x 10(5)/100ml, respectively. Moreover, the mean values of mould and yeast and Staphylococcus positive coagulase counts varied from 0.4 x 10 CFU/ml to 2.0 x 10(3) CFU/ml and from zero to 1.3 x 10 CFU/ml, respectively. The results obtained suggest that the hygienic conditions during the preparation and the utilization of the brine were not satisfactory so that they may represent an important source of contamination for the cheeses. The quality of the product may be harmed, as a result of this fact, in such a way as to represent a potential harzard for the health of the consuming population.