Biogenic amines determination in ripened cheeses

There are conditions during cheese ripening (Temperature, pH, humidity, salt concentration, substrate availability) that induce decarboxilating activity by bacteria producing biogenic amines. The objective of this research was to identify and to quantify the presence of biogenic amines: triptamine, putrescine, cadaverine, tiramine, histamine, spermine and spermidine in three types of cheese (Manchego, Brie and Parmesano), produced in Venezuela and to identify microorganisms Streptococcus, Brevibacterium and Lactic Acid Bacteria present in these cheeses. Two commercial brands of each type of cheese were analized by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and seven biogenic amines were identifyed. In Manchego cheese the biogenic amines detected in higher and lower concentration were spermidine (120.22 ppm) and tiramine (43.10 ppm). Putrescine in Brie cheese had the highest concentration (145.25 ppm) and cadaverine in the same cheese the lowest concentration (38.41 ppm), meanwhile in Parmesano cheese spermine (142.88 ppm) and spermidine (49.82 ppm) were the biogenic amines detected in higher and lower concentrations, respectively. Biogenic amines average content by commercial brand expressed in ppm were: Manchego (TM1): 617.6, Manchego (TM2): 549.51; Brie (TM1): 630.8, Brie (TM2): 823.67; Parmesano (TM1): 667.72 and Parmesano (TM2): 633.47. None of the analized samples exceeded the limits reported by FAO/WHO as acceptable. Effect of commercial brand on biogenic amine content was not relevant, but type of cheese was significant. Streptococcus, Brevibacterium and Lactic Acid Bacteria were found in lower amount than other researches. Consume of ripened cheeses by people susceptible to biogenic amines, could represent a potential public health problem.