Question

The large holes in ‘Swiss cheese’ are because of.
A. Propionibacterium shermanii
B. Saccharomyces cerevisiae
C. Trichoderma polysporum
D. Clostridium butylicum

Answer 1

Hint: Swiss cheese is a popular dairy product that originated from Switzerland. It is characterized as solid yellowish cheese having big holes in it. It is made by the fermentation process resulting from the application of a mixture of microbial strains. Out of these microbes, the slow-growing gram-positive bacteria is responsible for holes in swiss cheese.

Complete answer: Swiss cheese is a combination of three bacterial strains. It is a popular dairy product that originated in Switzerland and spread throughout the USA for its delightful taste. It is generally yellow in colour but many varieties of Swiss cheese exist in different colours and textures. The characteristic feature of Swiss cheese as compared to other cheese is that it consists of large holes throughout its mass. It is made from the application of Lactobacillus, Streptococcus thermophilus, and Propionibacterium shermanii. The production of Swiss cheese is based on the lactic acid fermentation done by the Lactobacillus and Streptococcus thermophilus. The Propionibacterium shermanii utilizes the lactic acid excreted by the two other strains. This results in the release of carbon dioxide gas and propionic acid formation. The carbon dioxide gas gets trapped inside the cheese mass and forms bubbles. This results in the formation of holes in the Swiss cheese. The propionic acid, on the other hand, gives the characteristic taste to the Swiss cheese.
Hence, the right answer is option A.

Note: The Swiss cheese is usually stored in cold temperatures to increase the spoiling period. Swiss cheese is usually kept stored for the ageing process, as it is believed that more ripe cheese gives more exotic flavour. The three bacterial strains used in its production changes its acidic conditions and fermentation environment. This makes the cheese structure unique and resists carbon dioxide to escape. This results in holes.