Yogurt, Cheese, and Other Fermented Milk Products
. Fermented milk products, including yogurt and cheese, are formed when bacteria break down lactose to produce lactic acid, which sours the milk. Yogurt is usually made from milk that has been fortified by the addition of nonfat powdered milk to improve its texture and taste. The fortified milk is pasteurized at a very high temperature and homogenized. A culture containing the bacteria Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus, and sometimes Lactobacillus acidophilus, is then added. The two most popular types of yogurt sold are Swiss-style, with added fruit mixed throughout, and sundae-style, with fruit on the top or bottom. Cultured buttermilk and sour cream, like yogurt, are produced by the breakdown of lactose by bacteria. Cultured buttermilk used to be made from buttermilk, but is now more commonly made from skim milk. Sour cream is made from cream. Both have a tangy, sour taste imparted by lactic acid. Cheese making is a complex process, with each of the more than 40...