DSM’s DelvoPhage test kit can detect phages in dairy within an hour, helping increase cheese yield and quality, reduce waste and boost value in cheese production by 5-10%.
Part of DSM’s broader phage management solution, the new DelvoAnalytics app offers a 24/7 platform for phage insights and data from whey samples of production. It enables dairy manufacturers to take immediate action on results with customized culture rotation recommendations.
Together with DSM’s whey testing and culture rotation services, the new digital solutions enable cheese and fermented milk product producers to make data-driven decisions in real-time for more efficient and cost-effective production processes.
While phage testing is a common practice within dairies, receiving results can take anywhere from four hours to over a week. At that point, it is often too late to prevent the effects of phage contamination on the performance of cultures or the duration of the fermentation process. DSM said one week of phage-affected cheese production can result in cheese waste and losses of up to €200,000 ($115,000).
DSM’s newly-expanded, integrated phage-management solution is suitable for cheese and fermented milk products. DelvoPhage is a digital qPCR test kit offering quantitative phage detection results ‘on the spot’ at several steps during production. It enables active bacteriophage monitoring and management in mesophilic and thermophilic dairy processes for reliable and consistent production, providing an early warning system for preventing phage problems.
DSM said with increased consistency, dairies can increase production capacity and improve cheese and fermented dairy product quality, while reducing economic losses by preventing waste, minimizing production slowdowns and improving sustainability.
After submitting whey samples for testing, dairy manufacturers can view the results of the phage analysis on the new DelvoAnalytics app and access insights into phage results and trends. Based on these data, DSM can provide culture rotation and process recommendations via the app which is available on computer, tablet or phone.
“Bacteriophage contamination is a challenge faced by nearly all cheese manufacturers and lengthy testing timings have long been a substantial barrier to combating issues caused by phages,” Evandro Oliveira de Souza, cheese global business lead at DSM, said.
“Our team of dedicated dairy experts understand these challenges and can help customers identify areas for improvement and implement a culture rotation strategy that enables them to stay one step ahead of phages – and the competition. Dairies can have peace of mind that whenever issues occur, DSM is the ideal partner to provide support and lead them in the right direction towards higher quality cheese.”