DSM Food Specialties and Tianjin University establish ‘cheese technology institute’

DSM Food Specialties and Tianjin University of Technology & Science have announced the new Cheese Technology Institute – an online resource for cheese manufacturers in China.

Visitors to the website can access details of the latest cheese research, manufacturing and application information, as well as facts about international cheese culture.

It also explains the cheese making process via text and video.

DSM Food Specialties will help Tianjin University of Technology & Science build and run the website.

“This website was established to increase cheese production in China. Although still less than most Western countries, cheese consumption has grown significantly in China over recent years with imports increasing year on year. In fact, 90% of current cheese consumption depends on imports,” says Thomas Zhao, dairy area sales manager, DSM Food Specialties.

This increased consumption can be attributed to the fact that more and more young people enjoy eating cheese and this forms a good basis for development of the industry.

In recent years, western fast food such as pizza has become increasingly popular and this has fuelled demand for cheese – mozzarella for example.

It is estimated that from 2008 to 2010, the Chinese cheese market has been in a “preparation phase”; from 2010 to 2012, processed cheese will be the most fashionable cheese type; and from 2012 to 2018, authentic cheese will be produced and China will enter the cheese harvest stage.

A cheese seminar and cheese technology training course is scheduled for May 2010.

It will include an introduction into cheese processing technology, on-site production of cheddar, mozzarella or processed cheese, sensory evaluation plus an appreciation of cheese culture.