Weight loss, pH, and water activity of the sausage were affected (P < 0.05) by fat reduction and processing time. Low lipid oxidation levels were observed during processing time irrespective of the dry sausage formulation.
As the fat content decreases there is an increase (P < 0.05) in hardness and chewiness and a decrease (P < 0.05) in cohesiveness. No differences were appreciated (P > 0.05) in the presence of microorganisms as a result of the reformulation.
a control sample, prepared with normal fat content (NF), using 74% meat and 18.5% pork backfat; a reduced-fat sample (RF) manufactured with 74% meat and replacing 50% of added pork backfat by the same proportion of konjac gel; and finally a low-fat sample (LF) formulated with 74% meat and replacing 80% pork backfat by the same proportion of konjac gel.