THE EFFECT OF SALT REDUCTION ON TASTE PLEASANTNESS IN COOKED'BOLOGNA-TYPE'SAUSAGES

This study's objective was to study how much the salt (NaCl) content of cooked sausage can be reduced without violating the perceived taste pleasantness. The 34 assessors evaluated seven cooked sausages made with added salt concentrations of 1.05; 1.20; 1.35; 1.50; 1.65; 1.80 and 1.95%. A relative-to-standard scale was used for rating the saltiness and taste pleasantness. The saltiness and pleasantness intensity of different salt concentrations was rated against a reference sausage, which contained 1.5% added salt. A reference sample was also hidden among the samples. The assessors were able to rank sausages based on the saltiness into the right order. Based on taste pleasantness, there was no significant difference between the sausages made with 1.35; 1.50; 1.65; 1.80 or 1.95% added salt (p>0.05). Several differences were, however, detected among the saltiness levels. The results of this study suggest that it might be possible to reduce the salt content of cooked sausage to 1.35% added salt.