Traditional Fermented Dairy Products in Southern Mediterranean Countries: From Tradition to Innovation

Marina Mefleh, Amira M.Galal Darwish, Priti Mudgil, Sajid Maqsood, Fatma Boukid

    Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

    12 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Fermented dairy products have been essential elements in the diet of Southern Mediterranean countries for centuries. This review aims to provide an overview of the traditional fermented products in Southern Mediterranean countries, with a focus on fermented dairy products, and to discuss innovative strategies to make improved versions of these traditional products. A large variety of fermented dairy products were reviewed, showing high diversity, depending on the used raw materials, starter cultures, and preparation procedures. Traditionally, dairy products were fermented using spontaneous fermentation, back-slopping, and/or the addition of rennet. Compared with commercial products, traditional products are characterized by peculiar organoleptic features owing to the indigenous microflora. The main limitation of traditional products is preservation as most products were consumed fresh. In addition to drying, brine or oil was used to extend the product shelf life but resulted in high salt/fat products. Several studies suggested alternative ingredients/processing to make revised products with new flavors, improved nutritional quality, and a longer shelf life. There is still plenty of room for more research to obtain a better understanding of the indigenous microflora and on quality improvement and standardization to reach a wider market.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number743
    JournalFermentation
    Volume8
    Issue number12
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Dec 2022

    Keywords

    • back-slopping
    • butter
    • cheese
    • innovation
    • spontaneous fermentation
    • traditional food
    • yogurt

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Food Science
    • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (miscellaneous)
    • Plant Science

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Traditional Fermented Dairy Products in Southern Mediterranean Countries: From Tradition to Innovation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this