Non-starter LAB dominate cheese microbiota
during ripening. They tolerate hostile environments
and influence the curd biochemistry maturation,
contributing to the final characteristics developed
during the making process of the cheese. Several of
these LAB have been selected on the basis of their
health benefits and are employed in cheese making
(Settanni and Moschetti, 2010). Probiotic LAB from
the same species isolated from the human gut are
actually used as non-starter LAB in some cheeses to
improve their health benefits.