Four Mexican pasta filata cheese variations were prepared using raw milk and starter culture (RMSC),
raw milk and acetic acid (RMAA), pasteurized milk and starter culture (PMSC), and pasteurized milk and
acetic acid (PMAA). Chemical composition, yield and microstructure were evaluated. Scanning electron
micrographs of the cheese variations were evaluated by lacunarity analysis. PMSC and PMAA cheeses had
higher protein, moisture and yield, but lower calcium content than RMSC and RMAA cheeses. The
manufacturing conditions and refrigerated storage produced structural differences in the cheese variations,
which displayed different heterogeneity patterns arising from spatial distribution of their
components as determined by lacunarity analysis. Raw and pasteurized milk cheese variations showed
an opposite lacunarity pattern trend during storage time.