The aim of this study was to evaluate the fatty acid profile and the cholesterol content of mortadella prepared with different vegetable oils. Nine treatments were made with four different vegetable oils (canola, linseed, olive and soy) using two substitution levels (50% and 100%). The fatty acids and the cholesterol content were separated and identified by gas chromatography. There was a prevalence of the oleic, linoleic and palmitic fatty acids. The saturated fatty acids were lower in the products with vegetable oils. The PUFA/SFA relation was lower in the control treatment while the higher value was observed in the 100% linseed oil treatment. The cholesterol levels found were similar between all the treatments, but a reduction of these levels were observed in the treatments, being superior only in treatment containing 100% of soybean oil. Thus, except the treatment with 100% of soybean oil, all the other treatments with vegetable oils showed a better nutritional quality in relation to the control treatment.
mortadella; fatty acids; cholesterol; vegetable oils
