Effect of carrageenan level and packaging during ripening on processing and quality characteristics of low-fat fermented sausages produced with olive oil

Eight low-fat fermented sausages were produced with partial replacement of pork backfat with olive oil. The total fat content of the sausages was 10% of which 8%, was animal fat and 2% was olive oil. The sausages were produced with two types of carrageenan (iota- and kappa-) in four levels (0%, 1%, 2% and 3%). iota-Carrageenan had a better effect (p < 0.05) than kappa-carrageenan on such characteristics as pH, weight loss and lipid oxidation of the sausages, as well as, on sensory attributes. Low-fat fermented sausages with K-carrageenan had the same (p > 0.05) firmness as high-fat commercial sausages (control). The carrageenan level of 3% negatively affected the firmness of the sausages. In a 2nd experiment, a high-fat control (30%) total fat) and three low-fat fermented sausages (10% total fat) with olive oil were produced with three levels of iota-carrageenan (0%), 1% and No). Low-fat sausages were vacuum packed for the last two weeks of ripening. iota-Carrageenan added at levels up to No had a positive effect (p < 0.05) on the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of the low-fat fermented sausages. The application of vacuum packaging over last two weeks of ripening improved the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of the sausages and resulted in sensory attributes equal to or better than the high-fat controls. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.