Development of a Natural Coating Based on Fermented Milk Whey for Biopreservation of Cheese

Consumer demand for natural, additive-free foods is increasing. Following the trend, this study evaluated the antifungal potential of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) against <i>Penicillium</i> species commonly found in cheese, using both LAB ferments and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) co...

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Main Authors: Ana Moreno, Jorge Calpe, Victor Dopazo, Carlos Luz, Juan Manuel Quiles, Giuseppe Meca
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Foods
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/13/2149
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author Ana Moreno
Jorge Calpe
Victor Dopazo
Carlos Luz
Juan Manuel Quiles
Giuseppe Meca
author_facet Ana Moreno
Jorge Calpe
Victor Dopazo
Carlos Luz
Juan Manuel Quiles
Giuseppe Meca
author_sort Ana Moreno
collection DOAJ
description Consumer demand for natural, additive-free foods is increasing. Following the trend, this study evaluated the antifungal potential of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) against <i>Penicillium</i> species commonly found in cheese, using both LAB ferments and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) coatings. LAB strains were first screened with a dual-culture assay. Fermentations in Man–Rogosa–Sharpe (MRS) broth and milk whey were lyophilized and tested, with whey-based ferments showing greater antifungal activity. All whey ferments inhibited fungal growth, with KK<sub>13</sub>, KB<sub>2</sub>, KB<sub>3</sub>, and KB<sub>4</sub> being the most effective based on MIC and MFC assays. KB<sub>3</sub>-fermented whey had the highest levels of antifungal metabolites, such as phenyllactic acid. A coating containing 5% HPMC and 100 g/L of KB<sub>3</sub>-fermented whey was applied to cheese slices, reducing the fungal counts of <i>Penicillium commune</i> by more than 1 Log<sub>10</sub> CFU per gram and extending shelf life by 12 days. In whole-cheese trials with natural contamination, this coating delayed visible fungal growth until day 60, extending shelf life by 45 days compared with uncoated samples and 33 days compared with coated controls. These findings support the use of LAB-fermented whey and HPMC coatings as natural preservation strategies, thereby contributing to the sustainable reuse of dairy by-products.
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spelling doaj-art-cdf694701c3a4759afc532bc64308bd82025-08-20T03:50:21ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582025-06-011413214910.3390/foods14132149Development of a Natural Coating Based on Fermented Milk Whey for Biopreservation of CheeseAna Moreno0Jorge Calpe1Victor Dopazo2Carlos Luz3Juan Manuel Quiles4Giuseppe Meca5Laboratory of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjassot, SpainLaboratory of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjassot, SpainLaboratory of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjassot, SpainLaboratory of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjassot, SpainLaboratory of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjassot, SpainLaboratory of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjassot, SpainConsumer demand for natural, additive-free foods is increasing. Following the trend, this study evaluated the antifungal potential of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) against <i>Penicillium</i> species commonly found in cheese, using both LAB ferments and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) coatings. LAB strains were first screened with a dual-culture assay. Fermentations in Man–Rogosa–Sharpe (MRS) broth and milk whey were lyophilized and tested, with whey-based ferments showing greater antifungal activity. All whey ferments inhibited fungal growth, with KK<sub>13</sub>, KB<sub>2</sub>, KB<sub>3</sub>, and KB<sub>4</sub> being the most effective based on MIC and MFC assays. KB<sub>3</sub>-fermented whey had the highest levels of antifungal metabolites, such as phenyllactic acid. A coating containing 5% HPMC and 100 g/L of KB<sub>3</sub>-fermented whey was applied to cheese slices, reducing the fungal counts of <i>Penicillium commune</i> by more than 1 Log<sub>10</sub> CFU per gram and extending shelf life by 12 days. In whole-cheese trials with natural contamination, this coating delayed visible fungal growth until day 60, extending shelf life by 45 days compared with uncoated samples and 33 days compared with coated controls. These findings support the use of LAB-fermented whey and HPMC coatings as natural preservation strategies, thereby contributing to the sustainable reuse of dairy by-products.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/13/2149edible-coatingbiopreservationcheeselactic acid bacteria<i>Penicillium</i>LAB-fermented whey
spellingShingle Ana Moreno
Jorge Calpe
Victor Dopazo
Carlos Luz
Juan Manuel Quiles
Giuseppe Meca
Development of a Natural Coating Based on Fermented Milk Whey for Biopreservation of Cheese
Foods
edible-coating
biopreservation
cheese
lactic acid bacteria
<i>Penicillium</i>
LAB-fermented whey
title Development of a Natural Coating Based on Fermented Milk Whey for Biopreservation of Cheese
title_full Development of a Natural Coating Based on Fermented Milk Whey for Biopreservation of Cheese
title_fullStr Development of a Natural Coating Based on Fermented Milk Whey for Biopreservation of Cheese
title_full_unstemmed Development of a Natural Coating Based on Fermented Milk Whey for Biopreservation of Cheese
title_short Development of a Natural Coating Based on Fermented Milk Whey for Biopreservation of Cheese
title_sort development of a natural coating based on fermented milk whey for biopreservation of cheese
topic edible-coating
biopreservation
cheese
lactic acid bacteria
<i>Penicillium</i>
LAB-fermented whey
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/13/2149
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