Microbial and Sensory Assessment of Milk with an Electronic Nose

Abstract

ABSTRACT: An electronic nose (e‐nose) was used to assess milk odor inoculated with Pseudomonas fluorescens or Bacillus coagulans , and odors were correlated with microbial loads and sensory scores. Sterile whole, reduced‐fat, and fat‐free milk were inoculated, stored at 1.7, 7.2, and 12.8 °C, and evaluated at d 0, 3, 5, 7, and 10 by e‐nose and sensory panel. Aerobic plate counts were performed. E‐nose readings, microbial counts, and sensory data were analyzed using discriminant function analysis. The e‐nose discriminated differences in odor due to microbial load and sensory data. This may lead to a rapid method for determining sensory evaluation and microbial loads of milk.