Effect of replacing pork backfat with olive oil on processing and quality characteristics of fermented sausages

Five types of fermented sausages were manufactured by traditional methods as follows: (i) one control (C) using 24% beef meat, 43% pork meat and 33% pork backfat; (ii) two L treatments by replacing 10% and 20%, respectively of pork backfat with liquid olive oil; and (iii) two E treatments by replacing 10% and 20%, respectively of pork backfat with olive oil incorporated as pre-emulsified fat (PEF) with soy protein isolate (SPI). There were no differences (p > 0.05) between treatments relating to pH, brine content, lactic acid bacteria and micrococci and staphylococci count, redness (a (∗)) and chemical composition. The L and E treatments had higher lightness and yellowness values than the control. The L treatments had lower (p < 0.05) weight losses and higher (p < 0.05) TBA values and were softer (p < 0.05) than the control. The E treatments had higher (p < 0.05; weight losses, lower (p < 0.05) TBA values and similar hardness to the control. The L sausages had an unacceptable appearance. The E sausages had equally good appearance as well as firmness and odour and taste as the control. It is concluded up to 20% of pork backfat can be replaced with olive oil as PEF with SPI. In preliminary experiments, where 30% pork backfat was replaced with olive oil as PEF with SPI, the product was unacceptable.