Acid whey is a by-product from cheese processing that can be employed in beverage formulations due to its high nutritional quality. The objective of the present work was to study the physicochemical characterisation of acid whey from Petit Suisse-type cheese production and use this by-product in the formulation of fermented milk, substituting water. In addition, a reduction in the fermentation period was tested. Both the final product and the acid whey were analysed considering physicochemical determinations, and the fermented milk was evaluated by means of sensory analysis, including multiple comparison and acceptance tests, as well as purchase intention. The results of the physicochemical analyses showed that whey which was produced during both winter and summer presented higher values of protein (1.22 and 0.97 %, w/v, respectively), but there were no differences in lactose content. During the autumn, the highest solid extract was found in whey (6.00 %, w/v), with larger amounts of lactose (4.73 %, w/v) and ash (0.83 %, w/v). When analysing the fermented milk produced with added acid whey, the acceptance test resulted in 90 % of acceptance; the purchase intention showed that 54 % of the consumers would 'certainly buy' and 38 % would 'probably buy' the product. Using acid whey in a fermented milk formulation was technically viable, allowing by-product value aggregation, avoiding discharge, lowering water consumption and shortening the fermentation period.

Grape pomace, which is derived from the skin and seeds, is the residue from the production of grape juice and wine. It corresponds to up to 20% of the total volume and it contains a high level of dietary fibers and bioactive compounds. In the Brazilian market, there is no product containing grape pomace as a replacement for conventional wheat flour. Thus, this study aimed to assess the effects of whole-wheat flour and organic Bordeaux grape pomace (Vitis labrusca L.) on the sensory, physicochemical and functional properties of cookies using response surface methodology (RSM). The regression models indicated that the addition of whole-wheat and organic grape pomace decreased (p < 0.0001) the water activity and significantly increased the content of fibers, hardness, brittleness, antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of the cookies. The RSM models presented suitable R 2 and R 2 adj values (> 65% of explained data variability), except for brittleness. The sensory evaluation results revealed that no significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed for the cookie samples, implying that the addition of grape pomace and whole-wheat flour did not negatively affect the preference of cookies.

This study aimed to establish a consumer quality standard for Camembert-type cheeses, combining chemical analysis, sensory profile, CATA (Check-All-That-Apply), preference mapping and chemometrics. The cheeses were manufactured using three different cultures ('O' mesophilic homofermentative; 'T' thermophilic and 'LD' mesophilic heterofermentative) and assessed at different ripening times (14, 21 and 28 days). The results showed a clear separation between consumers, with a higher number preferring the LD-type cheeses. The use of different sensory methods clarifies the consumers' choice regarding the cheese, with CATA proving to be an effective, low-cost method for characterisation of the cheeses, with the cheese made with LD-type culture the most accepted. These results show that this methodology can be used to develop consumer acceptable products through the standardisation of the manufacturing protocol.

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The whiteness index was efficient to monitor the surface growth of P. candidum. The highest proteolytic effect was found in the QMLD and QT cultures. However, the cheese elaborated with the QMLD culture showed the best sensory acceptance. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.