The effect of different combinations of gums over texture parameters of probiotic petit-suisse cheese was evaluated. Petit-suisse cheeses were produced using Quark cheese-base prepared with the starter Streptococcus thermophilus and the probiotics Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum. Three formulations of petit-suisse were prepared, using the quark cheese-base added of 0.75% of the final product of the mixture of the hydrocolloids xanthan gum (X), carrageenan gum (C), guar gum (G), pectin (P): F1 = 2,5X:2,5C:5G; F2 = 2X:3C:5P; F3 = 5C:5G. Parameters evaluated after 1, 7, 14, and 21 days of storage of the product at 4±1ºC included microbial counts of probiotic microorganisms, instrumental texture parameters, pH and moisture. Probiotic counts were always above 6.40 log CFU/g for L. acidophilus and above 7.30 log CFU/g for B. longum. The formulations were significantly different (p<0.05) for all the texture parameters, except for firmness of F1. The pH and the moisture were similar for the three formulations. F1 was considered the best formulation, due to its more stable firmness during storage.
Lactobacillus; Bifidobacterium; functional food; firmness; dairy product; hydrocolloids
