International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. Launches Transformational Culture to Drive Energy and Water Efficiency in Semi-Hard Cheese Production

Published: 2025-06-26 04:50:24 ET IFF

Published on 06/26/2025 at 04:50

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. announced the launch of CHOOZIT®? LIFT, a first-of-its-kind culture developed to transform the production of semi-hard cheeses for significant sustainability and business benefits. Leveraging the company's extensive bioscience expertise, the solution combines advanced strain design with practical cheesemaking knowledge to eliminate the curd washing step from the process entirely.

In doing so, this novel culture helps reduce water and energy use in production while maintaining the high quality of the final products to meet consumer expectations. CHOOZIT®?LIFT is a ready-to-use culture solution that combines different bacterial strains to naturally reduce the lactose level of whey, enabling cheese manufacturers to control post-acidification and reduce the risk of excessive acid development, ensuring a homogenous taste with no bitterness. This, in turn, eliminates the need for curd washing.

CHOOZIT®®? LIFT has been successfully validated through trials with cheesemakers to ensure efficacy. Data show that by using CHOOZIT®?

lIFT to produce 1 kilogram of semi-hard cheese, manufacturers can save 3 liters of water, making processes more cost- and energy-efficient without compromising quality. For plants producing 10,000 tons of semi-hard cheese per year, this product could save an average of 25,000 cubic meters of water annually. Plus, with no whey dilution required, CHOOZIT®?lIFT also enables lower costs associated with whey treatment, including energy usage, storage capacity, and transportation.

In addition to the direct economic benefits, removing the water-intensive curd washing step reduces the environmental footprint of operations and final products, offering cheese producers an effective way to meet growing demand for sustainable products. It also helps maintain consistent product quality during seasonal water shortages, ensuring reliable and efficient production.