Consumers' requirements for traditional fermented dairy food
products are generally increased due to their proved gastronomic
quality and positive effects on human health. However, the tight-
ened legislation on food safety results in lower production
fl
exi-
bility, homogeneity in the food production and in the loss of food
diversity and traditional speci
fi
city. Hence, the preparation of well
de
fi
ned functional autochthonous starter cultures for production of
traditional cheeses under controlled conditions, using the stan-
dardized traditional technology, is crucial