Development of a detection system for adulteration and identification of cheese products made from milk of Greek goat breeds

It essentially contributes to ensuring the protection and authenticity of traditional Greek cheese products produced from the milk of domestic goat breeds

Description of the proposed investment

The companies “STAMATIS PROIKAS SA” and KERASSA in collaboration with the Institute of Veterinary Research of ELGO DIMITRA and the Animal Husbandry Laboratory of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki took the initiative to create a corporate scheme which aims to:

protect the identity of their Greek goat cheese products, certifying their origin for the first time in Greece. The innovative control system of goat’s milk and cheese products will be able to certify that they are produced from milk derived from domestic goat breeds.
detect the adulteration of milk with water with an innovative method by which the sugars added to milk will be identified.

Project implementation methodology

The project requires the utilization of the most advanced and costly molecular techniques and comprises six phases

Pre-analytical phase for the development of the innovative traceability tool.
Analytical phase for the development of the tool
Post-analytical phase for tool development
Development of Greek caprine chip kit
Development of a methodology for the detection of adulteration in milk with water
Genetic traceability of milk and its products

Expected results

The proposed investment plan is an initiative that combines the pursuits of the expansion/development of two cheese-making enterprises of the PKK and the specialized knowledge/expertise of two research groups, that of the Institute of Veterinary Research – ELGO DIMITRA and that of the Animal Science Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Medicine, A.U.Th.

Veterinary Research Institute of Thessaloniki

The Veterinary Research Institute of Thessaloniki (IKE, http://www.vri.gr/) is a research unit of ELGO-“Dimitra”, founded in 1997. It conducts research aimed at supporting the primary sector of animal production and processing of its products through the optimization of production.

Project coordinator

Eleni Proika

Scientific Manager of the project

Dr. Ioannis Sakaridis

Description of activities

Since 1967, when the Animal Science Laboratory of the School of Veterinary Medicine of the AUTH was founded, the scientists who work there have been engaged in applied research in animal production.

The Proika family has been involved in cheese making for over a century. All these years, the cheese-making has been done with the same zeal and great fun, with respect for tradition. Having gathered a huge amount of experience and knowledge from grandfather to grandfather, “STAMATIS PROIKAS S.A.” continues to produce fine, innovative and indisputably high quality cheese products.