Utilização de plantas como ingredientes bioativos e aditivos naturais em queijo de ovelha

The innovation in traditional Portuguese foods can be a differentiating and dynamic factor in the food industry. In line with the market tendencies to promote the consumption of healthier foods, plants (dried material and aqueous decoctions) were incorporated in sheep cheese. The used plants were chestnut flowers (Castanea sativa Mill.), lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) and basil (Ocimum basilicum L.). The incorporations were carried during cheese production, being left at the dairy Queijos Casa Matias, for one month for ripening. After that time, one lot was subject to various assays, while another lot was left for six months to mature, after which, they were also subject to the same assays. The analysed parameters were the antioxidant activity, nutritional composition, fatty acids and minerals. The plants and their extracts functionalized the cheeses. Nutritionally, proteins and fat were the most abundant nutrients. In terms of individual fatty acids, palmitic (C16:0) and oleic (C18:1) acids were the most abundant. The saturated fatty acids were the most prevalent followed by the monounsaturated. Finally, in terms of minerals, calcium and sodium were the most abundant elements. Conservation wise, the incorporation allowed a faster loss of moisture along the storage time, which reduced the risk of contamination by microorganisms, while also preserving some unsaturated fatty acids. Furthermore, the functionalization of the cheeses allowed conferring beneficial properties to the consumer’s health.