STRAIN SELECTION FOR LACTIC CASEIN STARTERS TO MINIMIZE HEAVY COAGULUM FORMATION

Five multiple-strain starter blends all produced significant levels of heavy coagulum, one starter blend having a consistently stronger tend ency to form heavy coagulum than the other four. Seven single-strain s tarters were also examined. In general, Lactococcus lactis subsp diace tylactis (LD) strains produced less heavy coagulum than Lactococcus la ctis subsp cremoris (LC) strains which in turn produced less than Lact ococcus lactis subsp lactis (LL) strains. One LL strain produced much higher total solids differences between bulk and base of the coagulati on tube than the multiple-strain starter blends, whereas most LD and L C strains produced quite low levels of heavy coagulum. Measurement of total solids profiles in suitable coagulation tubes should be incorpor ated into strain screening procedures for lactic casein starters.