Dairy products, especially cheese, can accumulate BA, with
concentrations varying from just traces to more than 1000 mg
Kg−1. Their toxicity had led to the general agreement that they
should not be allowed to accumulate in food.
This article describes the physiological role and toxic effects
of BA, their presence in dairy products, the environmental
conditions that favor their synthesis and accumulation, their production
by microorganisms (including an in-depth description
of the genetic organization and regulation of their biosynthetic
pathways), and finally the methods available for detecting the
presence of BA or BA-producing microorganisms. The factors
affecting BA accumulation are analyzed in order to suggest possible
means of reducing their presence, particularly in cheese.
Knowledge in this area might help us reduce the formation of
these toxic compounds and establish safety limits for their concentration
in foods.