153. Studies on the chemistry of Cheddar cheese making. VI. Factors affecting the relation between lactic acid and titratable acidity in wheys

The experiments described above have shown that on the whole there is a close relationship between titratable acidity and lactic acid concentration in wheys obtained under various conditions of cheese-making. Variations in the rate of acid development or in the lactose content of the cheese milk have no significant effect on the relationship. Variations in the mineral content of the curd brought about by differences in the composition of the milk or by different acidities up to the running stage do have a certain effect. In curd with a lower mineral content there is a less complete neutralization of lactic acid and the wheys show a higher titratable acidity for the same lactate content. The differences, however, are small and affect only the wheys coming off late in the cheese-making process.