Abstract
Smeared cheeses like Epoisses, Munster, Maroilles, Livarot, Limburger or Tilsit are characterized by the occurrence of red to
orange-brown surfaces. The rind’s color of these cheeses originates in the synthesis of carotenoids and other pigments by bacteria
such as Brevibacterium linens group and coryneform bacteria, in interaction with deacidifying yeasts and cheese technology. Objective
measurement of the smear color can be provided using a spectrocolorimeter (L*a*b* colorimetric system).