Development of low fat: Low salt processed meat products

There is a growing demand for the development of healthier meat products with reduced fat and salts. The present study was carried out to develop low fat - low salt processed meat products in a type of fermented sausages. Products were formulated with different fat contents (10 g/100g - 20 g/100g) and levels of sodium chloride (0-2 g/100g) and potassium chloride (0-1 g/100g). Potassium chloride (KCl) was used as a substitute for sodium chloride (NaCl). Physicochemical characteristics and textural attributes were assessed instrumentally, while sensory attributes were determined using Quantitative Descriptive Analysis and Principal Component Analysis. The instrumental analysis showed significant (p <0.05) differences in hardness, brittleness, cohesiveness and chewiness among different sausage formulations. However, sensory analysis did not detect any textural changes due to salt substitution or fat reduction. The product with the highest fat content and KCl substitution was found to have the highest rating of perceived bitterness. The research findings identified the significant interaction between the addition of KCl and the fat content on bitterness perception.