Prevention of Fungal Contamination during Cheese Ripening - Current Situation and Future Prospects

치즈 숙성 중의 곰팡이 오염 방제 - 현황과 전망

Molds cause severe cheese deterioration, even though some white and blue molds are used for the manufacture of Camembert and Blue cheese, respectively. The species of Geotrichum, Moniliella, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Mucor, Fusarium, Phoma, and Cladosporium are the main fungi that affect contamination during cheese ripening. Once deteriorated by fungal spoilage, cheese becomes toxic and inedible. Fungal deterioration of cheese decreases the nutritional value, flavor profiles, physicochemical and organoleptic properties, and increases toxicity and infectious disease. Fungal contamination during cheese ripening is highly damaging to cheese production in Korean farmstead milk processing companies. Therefore, these companies hesitate to develop natural and ripened cheese varieties. This article discusses the recent and ongoing developments in the removal techniques of fungal contamination during cheese ripening. There are 2 categories of antifungal agents: chemical and natural. Major chemical agents are preservatives (propionic acid, sodium propionate, and calcium propionate) and ethanol. Among the natural agents, grapefruit seed extract, phytoncide, essential oils, and garlic have been investigated as natural antifungal agents. Additionally, some studies have shown that antibiotics such as natamycin and Delvocid$^{(R)}$, have antifungal activities for cheese contaminated with fungi. Microbial resources such as probiotic lactic acid bacteria, Propionibacterium, lactic acid bacteria from Kimchi, and bacteriocin are well known as antifungal agents. In addition, ozonization treatment has been reported to inhibit the growth activity of cheese-contaminating fungi.