Chorizo

Chorizo is a type of pork sausage originating from the Iberian Peninsula. It is typically seasoned with paprika, which gives it a distinctive red colour and smoky flavour, and often garlic. The sausage can be cured or smoked, and its texture can range from soft and pliable to hard and dry.

Chorizo is used to add a rich, spicy flavour to a wide variety of dishes. Manufacturers add it to savoury products like pizzas, pasta sauces, ready meals, and soups. Its bold taste also makes it a popular ingredient in tapas and as a standalone appetiser.

Chorizo is not a food additive and does not have an E-number. As a processed meat product, it is often high in fat and salt. The UK's Eatwell Guide advises that people who eat a lot of red and processed meat should consider cutting down. The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified processed meat as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1), based on sufficient evidence that it causes colorectal cancer. However, this classification does not take into account the amount consumed.