Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Cheese Structure

Authors

M. Rosenberg
M. J. McCarthy
R. Kauten

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Abstract

Cheese quality and quality evaluation are important in the production and marketing of cheeses. The commercial value and acceptability of bard and semi-bard cheeses are greatly affected by the cheese structure and body features. This is a feasibility study using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques to evaluate cheese structure.

The results indicate that MRI is a non-destructive method which can provide high resolution images of the inner structure of cheeses, particularly the presence of air and whey pockets as small as 0.1 x 0.1 x I mm. It may be used to study and evaluate eye structure, size, and distribution in Swiss-type cheeses, as well as to detect structural defects associated with Swiss-type and Cheddar cheeses. The information provided by this method is unique and can be used on a daily basis to follow cheese ripening, evaluate process parameters, detect cheese contamination by gas-forming bacteria, and provide reliable information necessary for proper cheese grading.

Recommended Citation

Rosenberg, M.; McCarthy, M. J.; and Kauten, R. (1991) "Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Cheese Structure," Food Structure: Vol. 10: No. 3, Article 1.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/foodmicrostructure/vol10/iss3/1