The effects of fat substitution using two commercial inulin products on the physico-chemical properties and eating
quality of a comminuted meat product (breakfast sausage) were modelled using a specialised response surface
experiment specially developed for mixtures. 17 treatments were assigned representing a different
substitution level for fat with inulin. Sausages were formulated to contain pork shoulder, back fat/inulin,
water, rusk and seasoning (44.3, 18.7, 27.5, 7 and 2.5% w/w). Composition, sensory, instrumental texture and
colour characteristics were assessed. Fructan analysis showed that inulin was unaffected by heat or processing
treatments. Models showed increasing inulin inclusions decreased cook loss (p b 0.0017) and improved
emulsion stability (p b 0.0001) but also resulted in greater textural and eating quality modification of sausages.
Hardness values increased (p b 0.0001) with increasing inulin concentration, with panellists also scoring products
containing inulin as less tender (p b 0.0112). Optimisation predicted two acceptable sausage formulations
with significantly lower fat levels than the control, which would contain sufficient inulin to deliver a prebiotic
health effect.