Sanli, TubaGursel, AsumanSanli, EbruAcar, EsraBenli, Mehlika2025-05-102025-05-1020131364-727X1471-030710.1111/1471-0307.120712-s2.0-84885177799https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0307.12071https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14720/10615A mixed starter culture containing exopolysaccharide (EPS)-producing strains of Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus was combined with Lactobacillus helveticus LH301 and used in the manufacture of low-fat and reduced-fat Kasar cheeses. For comparison, low-fat (C10) and reduced-fat (C20) cheeses were made using EPS-producing (EPS+) starter strain and EPS-non-producing (EPS-) starter strain. The physicochemical properties of the cheeses were assessed in terms of chemical composition, texture, microstructure and microbial content over 90days. Cheeses made with EPS-producing culture (EPS10 and EPS20) had lower protein contents than control cheeses with 10% and 20% fat in dry basis (C10 and C20). Scanning electron microscopy images showed that using EPS-producing culture resulted in a less compact protein matrix and sponge-like structure in the cheese samples. In general, cheeses made using EPS-producing culture had lower total viable counts. This could be related to the reduced survivability of EPS-producing cells in the cheese matrix during ripening due to autolysis ability.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccessEps-Producing Starter CultureKasar CheeseLow-Fat Cheese And MicrostructureArticle664Q2Q2535542WOS:000325360500010