Sausage

Sausage is a food typically made from ground meat, such as pork, beef, or poultry, mixed with fat, salt, and other seasonings like herbs and spices. It can be sold fresh, cured, smoked, or pre-cooked. The mixture is often stuffed into a casing, which can be made from animal intestines or synthetic materials.

Sausage is used as a primary ingredient or flavoring in a wide variety of dishes. Manufacturers add it for its savory flavor and texture, and it is commonly found in breakfast foods, pizzas, pasta dishes, casseroles, and as a filling for sandwiches and pastries.

Sausage is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA when used as a food ingredient. Some processed meats, including certain types of sausage, have been classified by the WHO/IARC as Group 1 carcinogens, meaning there is sufficient evidence that they cause cancer in humans, particularly colorectal cancer. However, the risk is associated with high consumption levels. JECFA has evaluated various meat products, but a specific evaluation for 'sausage' as a general category with an ADI is not typically set. Evidence on the health effects of sausage is mixed, with some studies linking high intake to increased risk of certain chronic diseases, while others focus on the nutritional benefits of protein and other nutrients.