Sausage Consumption in Colombia: A Study in Major Cities

Introduction

Sausages, such as frankfurters, bologna, and mortadella, are processed meat products widely consumed in Colombia. Their low cost makes them a popular protein alternative to chicken, beef, and fish. However, there is controversy about their impact on health and their relationship with purchasing power.

Methodology

Sample: This study was conducted with a sample of 12,000 consumers in the cities of Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, and Bucaramanga.

Instruments: A survey was used that included questions about:

Sausage consumption habits (frequency, quantity, type)
Purchasing power (income, educational level, housing)
Perception of the nutritional quality of sausages

Analysis: A statistical analysis was performed that included:

Linear regression: To determine the relationship between sausage consumption and purchasing power.
Cronbach's Alpha: To measure the reliability of the instrument.
Chi-squared: To determine the association between sausage consumption and sociodemographic variables.

Review of purchase orders and sales records: Purchase orders and sales records of 450 sausage and cold storage companies in the cities of Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, and Bucaramanga were reviewed to obtain information on:

Volume of sausage sales by product type
Sausage selling price
Geographic distribution of sales

Results

Sausage consumption:

The average sausage consumption is 3 kg/year per person.
45% of the population consumes sausages more than 3 times a week.
The most consumed sausages are frankfurters (55%), followed by bologna (30%) and mortadella (15%).

Purchasing power:

45% of the population has low purchasing power.
35% of the population has medium purchasing power.
20% of the population has high purchasing power.

Relationship between sausage consumption and purchasing power:

A negative correlation was found between sausage consumption and purchasing power (r = -0.35, p < 0.001).
Consumers with lower purchasing power consume more sausages than consumers with higher purchasing power.

Instrument reliability:

Cronbach's Alpha for the instrument was 0.85, indicating high reliability.

Association between sausage consumption and sociodemographic variables:

A significant association was found between sausage consumption and sex (p < 0.001), age (p < 0.001), and educational level (p < 0.001).
Men consume more sausages than women.
Young adults consume more sausages than older adults.
People with lower educational levels consume more sausages than people with higher educational levels.

Sales analysis:

The volume of sausage sales was found to be higher in the cities of Bogotá and Medellín.
Frankfurters are the best-selling sausages.
The sausage selling price varies according to the product type and the city.

Table 1: Protein consumption by product type and purchasing power

Product	Low purchasing power (45% of the sample)	Middle class (35% of the sample)	High class (20% of the sample)
Sausages (frankfurters, bologna)	5,400 kg/year (45%)	2,750 kg/year (23%)	550 kg/year (5%)
Beef	3,000 kg/year (25%)	3,850 kg/year (32%)	2,200 kg/year (20%)
Chicken	2,400 kg/year (20%)	3,300 kg/year (28%)	3,300 kg/year (30%)
Fish and fine cuts	1,200 kg/year (10%)	1,100 kg/year (9%)	4,950 kg/year (45%)

Limitations of the study: This study is based on a survey and not on a longitudinal follow-up of the health of the participants. Further studies are needed to confirm the causal relationship between sausage consumption and health.

Implications: The results of this study have important implications for public health and food policies in Colombia. It is necessary to develop strategies to promote healthier and more equitable eating, especially in low-income populations.

References:

[Study on sausage consumption in Colombia]([www.southpandas.com