A comparative study on the effect of antioxidants on the lipid and pigment oxidation in Bulgarian dry-fermented sausage type lukanka is described. A commercial mix of antioxidants, called Ôgrindox 1021Õ (GR), restricted the development of the peroxidation processes in dry-fermented sausages (type lukanka) to a greater extent than either rosemary (RS), rutine (RT), sodium erythrobate (SE) or l-ascorbic acid, when applied at the same concentration. The latter compounds did not effectively stabilize lipids in sausages against oxidation; they only slowed down the lypolysis and did not greatly change the colour of the cross-sectional surface. However, the sausage lipids were best stabilized when 1 g kg )1 GR, RS or RT was added. The addition of 1 g kg )1 RS and GR most efficiently suppressed the hydroperoxides -primary derivatives of lipid peroxidation, while the secondary derivatives in the final product were most reduced when 1 g kg )1 GR and SE were added.Peroxidation of dry-fermented sausages D. Balev et al.