Composition of subcutaneous fat from dry-cured Iberian hams as influenced by pig feeding

The triacylglycerol and free fatty acid composition and volatile profile of subcutaneous fat of three batches of dry-cured Iberian hams from pigs fed in an extensive system based on acorn and pasture ('montanera': MONT) or in confinement with a control diet (FEED) or a 100 mg alpha-tocopheryl acetate kg(-1) enriched diet (VITE) were investigated. Triacylglycerol of subcutaneous fat of hams from pigs fed on acorn and pasture (MONT) was more unsaturated, with larger percentages of mono-unsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, than triacylglycerol of subcutaneous fat of hams from pigs fed on concentrate feeds (FEED and VITE). However, the trend of oxidative processes was quite similar in the groups that contained antioxidants ('montanera' and alpha-tocopherol supplementation); namely, the highest volatile contents were found in subcutaneous fat of hams from pigs fed on acorn and pasture, while alpha-tocopherol supplementation gave rise to a different profile of volatile compounds in comparison with the control diet. Therefore antioxidant presence could contribute to a high intensity and quality of aroma of these hams. (C) 2001 Society of Chemical Industry.