Fatty acid composition of Kashkaval cheese with reduced sodium chloride content

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the changes in the fatty acid profile and acid value of milkfat during ripening of Kashkaval cheese with reduced sodium chloride content. Three batches of Kashkaval cheese (with low 0.7%; medium 1.5% and standard 3.1% NaCl content) were produced. Analyses were carried out on days 1 and 45 of ripening. Based on the results obtained, it was established that lipolysis in Kashkaval cheese during ripening was significantly delayed (p<0.05) in all samples. A slight increase in Kashkaval fatty acid value during ripening was established. Not statistically significant changes in the fatty acid composition of the tested samples during the 45-day ripening period were found. The average values for saturated fatty acids (SFA) were 81.08 mg/100g and for the monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were 11.03 and 1.04 mg/100g between control group (KSs with 3.1% NaCl content) and experimental groups (KMs with reduced NaCl content of 1.5% and KLs with a low NaCl content of 0.7 %) respectively. The predominant fatty acids (FA) were palmitic (C16, 37.56±1.13 mg/100g), myristic (C14, 16.98±0.51 mg/100g), stearic (C18, 15.35±0.46 mg/100g) and oleic acid (C18:1, 10.47±0.31 mg/100g). At the end of the ripening period, Kashkaval cheese with low content of NaCl had a slightly higher acid value of 3.03±0.58 mg KOH/g in comparison with cheese samples with medium and standard NaCl content of 1.72±0.01 and 1.11±0.01 mg KOH/g respectively.