A process improves the quality of recombined curd, milled cheese curds
and/or cheese components by reducing voids and apparent lines of fracture
in the recombined cheese, without the necessity of adding such volumes or
types of materials into the product as would affect other aspects of
quality such as taste. The process comprises combining segments of curds
or cheese with a selected quantity of transglutaminase that coats
surfaces of curd or cheese segments to be combined. The curds may be
milled cheese curds, and may be taken directly off-line in the
manufacturing process 9 with or without cooling), and then combined with
the transglutaminase, then fed into a form. The segments with the
transglutaminase are stored at a temperature (and pressure) and for a
time sufficient to fuse, bond, lessen, repair or reverse the apparent
lines and voids between interfaces where the segments are in contact with
each other. The process may allow the segments of cheese to react with
the transglutaminase for at least 5 minutes in a temperature range of
between 32 to 125.degree. F. The transglutaminase has been found to be
useful in various forms, including, but not limited to solid and liquid
application media. As a solid, the transglutaminase may be provided in
any active form (e.g., solid compound, salt, complex, encapsulate,
mixture or blend and may be used in a pure or diluted state. Because of
the activity level of the transglutaminase, it is preferred to provide
the active ingredient in a diluted form. In a solid format, the
transglutamines in an active form may be diluted with any biotolerable
solid (e.g., non-toxic filler), particularly those with no taste or
flavor, or those with desired taste and flavor. Among the types of
fillers that would be tolerable or desirable would be salts (e.g., common
NaCl), carbonates (e.g., CaCO.sub.3, MgCO.sub.3, etc.), inorganic oxides
(e.g., silica), microcellulose fibers, pulp fiber, etc.