The aim of this study was to investigate some chemical characteristics and residual nitrite and nitrate levels of sucuk and salami samples collected from retail outlets of major supermarkets in Adana province. A total of 36 sucuk samples (12 brands; 7 national and 5 local producers) and 30 salami samples (10 brands; Macar salamis) were purchased from local markets. Sucuk and salami samples were analyzed for pH value, moisture content, water activity and nitrite and nitrate contents. The average pH values of sucuk samples ranged between 4.69 and 6.56 indicating a higher variation while the average pH values of salami samples ranged between 6.05 and 6.43. Likewise, the average moisture contents of sucuk samples were between 33.56% and 46.78% whereas the average moisture contents of salami samples ranged between 62.09% and 67.91% indicating a relatively lower variation. Water activity values of the sucuk samples were between 0.932 and 0.861 while the average aw values of the salami samples ranged between 0.916 and 0.940. Among the sucuk samples analyzed in the present study mean nitrite and nitrate contents ranged from 58.65 mg/kg to 216.63 mg/kg and 34.86 mg/kg to 161.08 mg/kg, respectively. While relatively lower nitrite (14.30 mg/kg - 35.96 mg/kg) and no nitrate contents were observed in salami samples, the data indicated that a higher variation of both nitrite and nitrate contents were still present in sucuk samples in the local markets requiring more studies and inspections to lower the variation related to dietary exposure to nitrite and nitrite from these types of products.

The study aimed to evaluate the pH, water activity (aw), residual nitrite, lactic acid bacteria, Micrococcus/Staphylococcus, Enterobacteriaceae and yeast-mould in fermented sausage samples from different firms. A total of 30 sucuk and 30 heat-treated sucuk samples were taken from 10 different brands with different batch numbers. According to analysis results, all samples, with the exception of some heat-treated sucuk samples from one brand, provided pH values that were within the permitted limit of regulation. For sucuk, mean aw value of only one brand was below 0.90, while aw values for heat-treated sucuk were in the range of 0.928 to 0.957. All samples had residual nitrite levels less than 15 mg/kg (in the range of 7.84-14.80 mg/kg). Yeast-mould and Enterobacteriaceae numbers were often below <2 log cfu/g. The number of Staphylococcus and Micrococcus showed a wide variation in both products which was <2 - 5.96 log cfu/g for sucuk and <2 - 7.85 log cfu/g for heat-treated sucuk. Lactic acid bacteria counts varied between 2-<4.0 log cfu/g in 40% of heat-treated sucuk samples. In sucuk, the number of lactic acid bacteria was <6 log cfu/g in 23.33% of the samples, and 6-<8 log cfu/g in 50% of the samples.