Impact of processing steps on the composition of volatile compounds in cheese powders

Changes in the composition of volatile compounds during processing of cheese powders, made from Emmental and Danbo cheese were analysed by dynamic headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Samples comprised cheese, melted cheese slurry, the slurry heat treated using three different time and temperature combinations, and the spray-dried cheese powder. About 100 volatile compounds were identified. During melting of the cheese the level of some volatile compounds increased significantly; heat treatment mainly leads to a loss of compounds and spray drying leads to a substantial reduction of volatile compounds, with the exception of a range of aldehydes that increased. The final cheese powders could, however, be distinguished according to cheese type.