Monthly Archives: August 2021

what is polony actually made of? Considered the largest outbreak of listeriosis that the world has seen so far, this news is definitely stirring up a mild panic. And the culprit? Polony… in the kitchen… with a knife. So what does go into a polony? Polony can be made of most meats. Many manufactures divides […]

I am interested in understanding the ability of gel formation of different meat proteins, their water holding capacity and the relative protein content of various ingredients used in making fine emulsion sausages. This is important, especially in South Africa where there is a heavy reliance on MDM/ MRD in emulation sausages. What can be added […]

My interest in the origins of the sausage was sparked by a reference by Laurence Green in his book,  Harbours of Memory (1969) about South African port cities. He writes that  that “butchers prepared fine mutton hams and polonies and these kept fresh in any climate.” Apart from the interesting reference to “mutton hams“, he, […]