acceptable quality and shelf-life for consumers. Differences in processing,
color, and fat appearance, from increased unsaturation, however,
may be of large enough magnitude to negatively affect processors or
decrease consumer product acceptability. In light of changes in swine
diets that increase the unsaturation of pork fat, understanding the
impact of increased unsaturation on pork sausage quality will require
future research. Overall, use of fat with increased UFA is generally
more suitable for emulsion-type sausages, especially in terms of texture
characteristics of sausage. Due to trends towards meat products which
are both reduced in fat and improved fatty acid profiles, inclusion of
unsaturated oils to replace animal fats is expected to continue. Future
research regarding the consumer acceptability of changes to fresh and
cured sausages with increased levels of unsaturation will be needed.