Physicochemical quality and consumer discrimination of industrial and traditional fermented sausages

Abstract

Salami tipo Italiáno (“Italian Salami”) and Linguiça Colonial (“Colonial Sausage”) are fermented sausages widely consumed in southern Brazil and commonly confused by consumers. Colonial sausages often characterized by greater diversity of physicochemical and sensory qualities, which often can weaken a product’s identity. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the description and discrimination of brands of Italian Salami and Colonial Sausage using the “check-all-that-apply” technique by consumers and in parallel to relate the sensory perception to the physicochemical qualities of the fermented sausages. Results revealed a lack of physicochemical and sensory standardization for the Colonial Sausage brands (traditional). Sensory evaluations were most effective for discriminating industrial and traditional sausages. Through the check-all-that apply technique, consumers described and discriminated the samples, and set a standard for better hedonic acceptance of fermented sausages.