The Effect of Different Levels of Sodium Nitrate on the Physicochemical Parameters and Nutritional Value of Traditionally Produced Fermented Loins

This study evaluated the effect of sodium nitrate reduction on the following parameters: thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, the color parameters (CIE L* a* b*), total heme pigments, heme iron content and nutritional value related to N-nitrosamines content as well as nitrate and nitrite residues of traditionally produced fermented loins. Raw loins (m. longissimus thoracis et lumborum) and fermented products with different levels of nitrate added (0, 50, 100, 150 mg kg−1) were tested during six months of vacuum storage. The reduction of nitrate did not lead to statistically significant changes in total pigment content as well as heme iron content in fermented loins at the end of processing and during storage. Water activity did not differ statistically significantly between the formulations. Fermented loins at the end of processing revealed residual sodium nitrite levels of −1, while the amount of nitrate residue depended on the level added during production, obtaining the highest value of 19.0 mg kg−1 for the sample with the highest nitrate addition. The level of nitrosamines was −1 in all samples, which proves their chemical safety. In conclusion, the use of nitrate reduced to 50 mg kg−1 in fermented loins allows to obtain a product with properties similar to the product with 150 mg kg−1 of nitrate, especially in terms of its physicochemical properties and lipid oxidation.