Quality Characteristics of Retailed Sucuk (Turkish Dry-Fermented Sausage)

Fifty sucuks (19 factory sucuks and 31 butcher’s sucuks) were collected from local markets and butchers. Chemical, microbiological and overall sensory qualities of sucuks were investigated. There was a great variation in the concentrations of biogenic amines and levels of residual nitrite in them. Aerobic plate, lactic acid bacteria, and mould and yeast counts of factory sucuks varied from 5.56 to 8.39 log cfu/g, from 4.70 to 6.48 log cfu/g and from 3.15 to 4.68 log cfu/g, respectively. pH values of butcher’s sucuks were higher than those of the factory ones. In general, butcher’s sucuks contained higher amounts of biogenic amines and TBA values than factory sucuks. With respect to their overall sensory quality, about 63.2 % of butcher’s sucuks were found to be in the acceptable range. High quality raw materials and suitable starter culture should be used in the production of sucuk.