Volatile compounds in Iberian dry-cured loin

The volatile profile of Iberian dry-cured loin from four different Iberian pig lines (Entrepelado, Lampino, Retinto and Torbiscal) and two feeding systems (OUT - fed on acorn and grass-vs.-IND - fed on high oleic acid concentrate) was studied using solid phase microextraction (SPME). 133 volatile compounds were identified and assigned to 16 chemical families. Alcohols were the major group, ethanol being the main compound. The high number of esters detected and the levels of ethanol and acetic acid found, points to an important role of microorganism activity in the formation of volatile compounds in Iberian dry-cured loin. Sulphur compounds, coming mostly from garlic, constituted an important group, with 14 compounds. Significant differences were found among loins from pigs reared in different feeding systems but not among Iberian pig lines. Dry-cured loins from OUT pigs showed higher levels of many compounds derived from lipid oxidation, such as octanoic acid (P = 0.000), decanoic acid (P = 0.018) or hexanal (P = 0.014). (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.