FIGURE 10.2 Schematic overview of mechanisms for generation of flavor compounds during sausage fermentation. The relative importance of the biochemical, chemical, and microbial transformations to overall taste and flavor remains to be determined and is expected to differ considerably depending on regional or product-related variations in the product formula and ripening conditions. Smoking of sausages or ripening with a surface mold flora is used for a significant proportion of fermented sausages depending on regional preferences