A combination of Lactococcus lactis and cremoris strains, DELVO-STAR is a phage robust, highly active semi-liquid formulation suitable for a large number of cheese types, in particular American-style cheddar (both mild and sharp aged) and cottage cheese. Staying true to the proven art of cheese making, it further simplifies the process to deliver significant benefits. DELVO-STAR is added directly to pasteurized milk in the starter tank so requires no media, eliminating a labor intensive part of the culture preparation process. With DELVO-STAR, starter production can be doubled and manufacturers can produce more than one type of cheese each day. Subtle changes to culture use are easily accommodated thanks to the excellent hold-over capacity of DELVO-STAR.