The S. aureus population was found to exceed 105 cfu/g of cheese four hours after molding. SED was the
only enterotoxin detected. It was produced in very low quantities that varied with the parameters
studied. Early sed gene expression during cheese processing was correlated with SED detection in curd
and cheese. Milk maturation temperature and time emerge as key technological parameters that control
SED production. A response surface methodology was then carried out to further characterize the relationships
between both factors and SE production in cheese and whey. Two SED-producing strains
were used to perform two sets of ten cheese batches based on a central composite design of experiments
at five levels. Predictive mathematical models were established.