SUMMARY
The aim of this research is to substantiate the possibility of using crushed activated carbon (hereinafter referred to as activated carbon) as a food additive in the production of Cheddar cheese in order to expand the range of this type of cheese on the market.The studied samples of Cheddar cheese, produced in accordance with the technological instructions approved in the prescribed manner, in compliance with the state sanitary regulations for dairy enterprises in accordance with GSP 4.4.4.011.According to the research results, all physicochemical, microbiological and toxicological indicators comply with the requirements of DSTU 6003:2008.It is proved that the introduction of activated carbon helps to reduce the amount of moisture without increasing the level of acidity in the finished product. Thus, ensuring the compliance of physico-chemical and microbiological indicators with the requirements of the standard.In the process of laboratory studies, the presence of carbohydrates in the control and experimental samples is revealed, which indicates the incomplete ripening of cheese in the process of cheddarization. It is established that the introduction of activated carbon during the ripening of cheese helps to reduce the amount of carbohydrates by 2.8%.The introduction of activated carbon helps to reduce the moisture content by 0.4%, in comparison with the sample without its use. The influence of activated carbon on the indicators of active and triturated acidity, which affect the safety indicators of cheddar cheese during storage for 30 days, is analyzed. As a result of the study, lower pH values of a sample of cheddar cheese with activated carbon are obtained, which helps to suppress the growth of conditionally pathogenic microflora of cheese and stabilizes microbiological parameters during storage of Cheddar cheese with activated carbon.It is proved that cheddar cheese with activated carbon maintains high quality indicators throughout the entire storage period