Fig. 1 shows the visible and NIR average spectrum of both types of sausages studied. The main spectral discrepancy is observed around 460 nm, where the average spectrum of chorizo exhibits a higher absorbance value. This fact is a consequence of the addition of red pepper during the elaboration of these products, traditionally
characterised by their intense red colour. The strength of this absorption band hides the peaks at 424 and 568 nm found in the average spectrum of salchichón, which are associated with Soret absorption and oxyhaemoglobin absorption, respectively (Cozzolino& Murray, 2004; Mitsumoto, Maeda, Mitsuhashi, & Ozawa,1991).