ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Application of Polyamide Microfilters as an Alternative to Cheesecloth in Labneh Production: Effects on Processing Efficiency and Product Quality
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1
Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, School of Agriculture, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
2
Standardization Department, Food Industries Division, Jordan Standards and Metrology Organization (JSMO), Amman, Jordan
3
Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, North Carolina A & T State University, Greensboro, NC, USA
Submission date: 2025-08-06
Acceptance date: 2025-10-07
Corresponding author
Ghadeer F. Mehyar
Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, The University of Jordan, Jordan
KEYWORDS
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ABSTRACT
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of polyamide microfilters (MFs; 10–75 µm pore size) as an alternative process enhancement to traditional cheesecloth for labneh production. Fresh cow’s milk was fermented into set yogurt and strained using either cheesecloth (control) or MFs. Labneh yield ranged from 21.2 g/100g (control) to 29.8 g/100 g (MF10), with MF10 showing significantly higher yield. The total solid content varied from 20.5 g/100 g (MF10) to 32.8 g/100 g (control), while fat content ranged between 7.9 and 12.5 g/100 g. Microbiological analysis revealed lower mesophilic aerobic count (3.3–4.6 log₁₀ CFU/g) and yeast and mold count (1.1–3.6 log₁₀ CFU/g) in the MF-treated samples, indicating enhanced hygiene. Microscopic imaging revealed that MFs had uniform, smooth surfaces, whereas cheesecloth consisted of loosely arranged cellulose fibers, which accounted for the differences in microbial retention. Whey drainage kinetics fit a linear model well (R²>0.99), demonstrating predictable separation behavior. Apparent viscosity decreased from 8.33 to 0.10 Paxs with increasing shear rate (36–3,600 s⁻¹), confirming pseudoplastic flow behavior. Texture analysis showed hardness ranging from 4.3 N (MF10) to 24.7 N (MF75), and hardness work between 2.7 and 18.8 Nxs, with the control showing intermediate values. Texture analysis profile revealed that the control had a more spiked curve, indicating a less uniform internal structure. Sensory evaluation revealed no significant differences among treatments, except for granulation, which was higher in the control. Overall, labneh produced using MFs exhibited generally consistent quality characteristics, with MF57 being the most comparable to cheesecloth in total solids, fat content, hardness, hardness work, and adhesion. These findings confirm that MFs can improve process efficiency and microbial safety while preserving the desirable qualities of traditional labneh.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors extend their sincere gratitude to the staff of the Dairy Pilot Plant at the University of Jordan for their support during this study. Special thanks are given to Ms. Hiba Al-TiTi for her assistance in conducting several experiments, and to Mr. Mahmoud A. Aljaber for his valuable contributions to laboratory work and data collection.
FUNDING
The authors gratefully acknowledge the Deanship of Scientific Research at the University of Jordan and the National Center for Research and Development of the Higher Council for Science and Technology, Amman, Jordan, for funding this research.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
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