title: Computer vision and color measurement techniques for inline monitoring of cheese curd syneresis.
abstract: Optical characteristics of stirred curd were simultaneously monitored during syneresis in a 10-L cheese vat using computer vision and colorimetric measurements. Curd syneresis kinetic conditions were varied using 2 levels of milk pH (6.0 and 6.5) and 2 agitation speeds (12.1 and 27.2 rpm). Measured optical parameters were compared with gravimetric measurements of syneresis, taken simultaneously. The results showed that computer vision and colorimeter measurements have potential for monitoring syneresis. The 2 different phases, curd and whey, were distinguished by means of color differences. As syneresis progressed, the backscattered light became increasingly yellow in hue for circa 20 min for the higher stirring speed and circa 30 min for the lower stirring speed. Syneresis-related gravimetric measurements of importance to cheese making (e.g., curd moisture content, total solids in whey, and yield of whey) correlated significantly with computer vision and colorimetric measurements.
authors.affiliation: Teagasc, Moorepark Food Research Centre, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland. colm.everard@teagasc.ie
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Everard
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: O'Callaghan
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Fagan
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Payne
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D002611:Cheese / Q000032:analysis*; D003124:Colorimetry / Q000379:methods*; D003612:Dairying / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods; D005524:Food Technology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry; D011897:Random Allocation; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014867:Water