Reduction of sodium content in pork coppa: physicochemical, microbiological and sensory evaluation

Sodium reduction and the substitution of sodium chloride by other salts have been extensively studied in order to produce healthier foods. Coppa is a pork cured product that receives high levels of sodium through the salting process. The objective of this work was to evaluate the impact of reductions in Sodium Chloride (NaCl), substitution by Potassium Chloride (KCl) and reductions in the re-salting time on the physicochemical, microbiological and sensorial characteristics in pork coppa. Four treatments were applied: T1 with 2 days of salting, 2 days of re-salting and 35 % reduction of NaCl; T2 with 2 days of salting and 3 days of re-salting and 35 % reduction of NaCl; T3 with 2 days of salting and 2 days of re-salting and replacing 35 % of NaCl by KCl; T4 with 2 days of salting and 3 days of re-salting and 35 % replacing NaCl by KCl. Control: standard treatment was applied with 100 % of NaCL and salting time was 2 days and then 5 days to re-salting. The reduction in sodium content in processed pork Coppa produced no microbiological nor physicochemical changes. The reduction in salting together with salting and re-salting time and the partial replacement of NaCl by KCl resulted in reductions from 2,000 mg to 1,600 mg of sodium. Sensory evaluation demonstrated that the reduction in re-salting time was efficient using the ideal profile method which showed that treatments T1 and T2 were efficient in creating a product that meets consumer expectations.