Process for foil ripening of cheese

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9242789-B2
Application number	US-68265708-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 12, 2008
Priority date	Oct 12, 2007
Publication date	Jan 26, 2016
Grant date	Jan 26, 2016

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for preparing foil-ripened cheese comprising (i) introducing cheese after brining into a cheese-aging packaging containing an opening for receiving cheese, (ii) closing the packaging, and (iii) ripening the cheese, wherein the cheese-aging packaging comprises a thermoplastic, monolithic film and the closed cheese-aging packaging has a water vapor transmission rate of at least 10 g/m 2 /24 hours at 10° C. and 85% relative humidity and an oxygen permeability of at most 100 cm 3 /m 2 /24 hours/atm at 10° C. and 85% relative humidity.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A process for preparing foil-ripened cheese comprising (i) introducing cheese after brining into a cheese-aging packaging containing an opening for receiving cheese, (ii) closing the packaging, and (iii) ripening the cheese, characterized in that the cheese-aging packaging comprises a thermoplastic, monolithic film and the closed cheese-aging packaging has a water vapor transmission rate of at least 10 g/m 2 /24 hours at 10° C. and 85% relative humidity and an oxygen permeability of at most 100 cm 3 /m 2 /24 hours/atm at 10° C. and 85% relative humidity.

2. The process according to claim 1 , characterized in that the closed cheese-aging packaging has a water vapor transmission rate of at most 60 g/m 2 /24 hours.

3. The process according to claim 1 , characterized in that the thermoplastic polymers used for the thermoplastic film is a polyamide, polyester, polyether, the copolymers thereof or a mixture of at least two of these polymers.

4. The process according to claim 1 , characterized in that the thermoplastic polymers in the thermoplastic film consist essentially of polyamide and polyetherester and/or polyetheramide.

5. The process according to claim 3 characterized in that the ether content in the thermoplastic film is at least 1 wt. % relative to the total amount of thermoplastic polymers in the thermoplastic film.

6. The process according to claim 1 , characterized in that the process further comprises treating the cheese after brining with a composition comprising natamycine and/or nisine prior to introducing the cheese into the cheese-ripening packaging.

7. The process according to claim 1 , characterized in that the packaging is tightly covering the surface of the cheese to be ripened.

8. The process according to claim 1 , characterized in that the process further comprises vacuumizing prior to closing the packaging.

9. The process according to claim 1 , the closing of the packaging is effected by sealing.

10. The process according to claim 1 , characterized in that the cheese-aging packaging is a bag.

11. The process according to claim 10 , characterized in that the process comprises introducing cheese after brining into a bag containing at least one seal and closing the bag by sealing the opening for receiving the cheese.

12. The process according to claim 1 , characterized in that the cheese to be ripened is of the Gouda, Emmental or Edam type.

13. The process according to claim 1 , characterized in that the cheese to be ripened is the Gouda type.

14. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic polymers in the thermoplastic film consist essentially of 70 to 90 wt. % of polyamide and 10 to 30 wt. % polyetherester, relative to the total amount of thermoplastic polymers in the thermoplastic film.

Assignees

• Van Gurp Marnix
• Hooft Corstiaan Johannes
• Krijgsman Josien
• Stroeks Alexander Antonius Marie
• Dsm Ip Assets Bv

Inventors

• Van Gurp Marnix
• Hooft Corstiaan Johannes
• Krijgsman Josien
• Stroeks Alexander Antonius Marie

Classifications

• A23C19/166 Primary

  with non-edible preformed foils, films or bandages · CPC title

• Y10T428/1397

  Single layer [continuous layer] · CPC title

• A23C19/14 Primary

  Treating cheese after having reached its definite form, e.g. ripening or smoking · CPC title

• B65B25/06

  Packaging slices or specially-shaped pieces of meat, cheese, or other plastic or tacky products · CPC title

• B65D85/70 Primary

  for materials not otherwise provided for · CPC title