It was studied the process and the acceptibility of the vongole (Anomalocardia brasiliana) sausage, beyond to evaluate the stability of the frozen product as to chemical, physico-chemical, microbiological and sensory aspects. The vongole sausage had the following formulation: 48% vongole, 5% soy protein, 15% water, 25% swine fat, 3% albumin, 2% blend of cure salts and NaCl, 1.5% flavouring, 0.5% colouring. The final product was stored during three months at -18ºC, and the shelf life study included pH, moisture, proteins, lipids, nitrogen total volatile base, lipid oxidation tests, pathogenic and toxigenic microorganisms analysis, overall appearance, odour, flavour, texture avaliatons. According to sensorial analyses, the vongole sausage reached good score; it acceptibility index (AI) was 78-87% for the all evaluated attributes, specially for flavour and texture. The product was evaluated as ideal vongole flavour and ideal seasoning flavour for 66.67% and 73.33% of the tasters, respectivelly. The results of the purchase intention test showed that 46.67% of the consumers had probable or certain intention to buy the product. The data of microbiological, physico-chemical, chemical and sensory analyses showed that the vongole sausage was stable during three months at -18ºC.
Anomalocardia brasiliana; vongole sausage; processing; stability
