11th International Course in Dry Cured Meat Products

About the activity

Dry-cured meat products, such as dry-fermented sausages and dry-cured ham, are highly appreciated due to their organoleptic characteristics. Despite being traditional products, they are constantly evolving meet the needs of an ever-changing market and consumer trends. A thorough knowledge of the individual and combined effects of the variety of raw materials, ingredients and processing methodologies is vital to successfully meet market and consumer requirements.

The International Course in Dry-Cured Meat Products provides a comprehensive review of all aspects related to the manufacture of dry-fermented sausages and dry-cured ham, including the latest developments in processing technologies and an overview of industrial trends.
This annual course, attended by professionals from all over the world, places an important emphasis on practical training, with 40 % of the classes held in the pilot plant.

The International Course in Dry-Cured Meat Products is a unique opportunity to share experiences with other professionals from all over the world, create networking opportunities and establish new business and commercial relationships.

Every year, one of the course topics is chosen for in-depth discussion. The highlighted topic in 2025 is Cured or uncured: the nitrite dilemma. The course will include aspects relating to the role and significance of nitrite and nitrates in dry-cured meat products and the strategies for their partial or total substitution.

Who is the course intended for

The 11th International Course in Dry-Cured Meat Products, the past editions of which have been attended by professionals from 30 different countries, is aimed at professionals working in the fields of production, R & D, quality and marketing and sales of the meat industry and related sectors.

TEACHING STAFF

The teaching staff combines excellent scientific- technological knowledge, acquired at IRTA or in the private sector, with ongoing experience in collaboration, training and technology transfer within the meat sector to offer a high-level training

FEES AND PAYMENT
1.975 € // Reduced fee: 1.775 € (until 13th April 2025) + VAT

The prices include refreshments, lunch, and the daily shuttle bus from Girona to IRTA (Monells).
The number of participants is limited to 30.
Applications will be considered in the order in which they arrive.

CANCELLATIONS
For cancellations before 18th April 2025, the registration fee will be refunded. After this date, a cancellation fee of 300 € will be applied.

The organisation reserves the right to make changes to the programme and teaching staff.

IRTA reserves the right to cancel the course if minimum enrolment is not met before 26th April. In such cases, all fees paid in advance will be refunded in full.

English
Price: 1.975 € // Reduced fee: 1.775 € (until 13th April 2025) + VAT
26/05/2025 - 30/05/2025
08:30h - 18:00h
limited seats
Monells

Speakers

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Brigitte Martínez

Course coordinator

Brigitte Martinez is an Agricultural Technical Engineer (2001) from the University of Vic and the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, with a degree in Food Science and Technology from the University of Girona (2005) and an Official Master’s in Human Nutrition and Food Quality organized by the University of the Balearic Islands (2010). She specializes in the application and improvement of discontinuous thermal treatments on different food matrices, enhancing their shelf life and sensory quality. Additionally, she has worked on the application of new preservation technologies (microwaves, high pressure, and radio frequencies) to extend shelf life while improving organoleptic quality, thus obtaining new products and/or processes adapted to consumer demands. She has extensive experience in contractual research activities with companies in the food sector and in dissemination activities in the field of food technology. She is currently coordinating the International Course in Dry Cured Meat Products, “Curso internacional en tecnología de productos cárnicos” and being on the Local Organizing Committee of ICoMST 2025 (International Congress of Meat Science and Technology).

Schedule

1. Technologies of dry-fermented sausage processing (18 hours)
1.1 Raw materials, ingredients and additives.
1.2 Operations (mincing, mixing, stuffing, drying, and packaging).
1.3 Starter cultures: taxonomy, metabolism, and applications.
1.4 Defects of appearance, texture, aroma, and flavour of dry-fermented sausages: Causes and solutions.
Practical classes (8,5 hours):
1.5 Manufacture of different types of dry-fermented sausages in the pilot plant.
1.6 Study of dry fermented sausages from the international market.
2. Technologies of dry-cured ham and whole muscle-products processing (9 hours).
2.1 Manufacturing processes: raw materials, operations and optimization. Influence of raw materials and processing variables.
2.2 Defects in appearance, texture, aroma and flavour of dry-cured hams: Causes and solutions.
Practical classes (5 hours):
2.3 Manufacture of dry-cured hams and dry whole muscle products in the pilot plant.
2.4 Study of dry-cured hams and dry whole muscle products from the international market.
3. Cured or uncured: Role of nitrites in dry-cured meat products. Strategies to reduce or substitute nitrites and nitrates (3,5 hours).
4. Meat drying technology: principles, equipment and control (2,5 hours).
4.1 Basis of drying.
4.2 Standard convection dryers.
4.3 Drying control and relative humidity sensors.
4.4 Simulation of the drying process and the drier fluid dynamics. Practical cases.
4.5 Other types of dryers (Quick-Dry-Slice Process)
5. Safety in dry-cured meats (2,5 hours)
5.1 Relevant hazards in dry-cured meats and associated risks.
5.2 Food Safety regulations applicable to dry-cured meat products: international standards.
5.3 Food Safety Management Systems: the relevance of validation, monitoring, and verification procedures.
5.4 Approaches to enhance the food safety of cured and uncured meats.

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Venue

Finca Camps i Armet 17121 Monells (Girona) - Spain
IRTA Torre Marimon
08140 Caldes de Montbui, Barcelona
Phone: 93 467 40 40
Fax: 93 467 40 42
 
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