The British banger is the latest food to get a healthy makeover courtesy of the Mediterranean diet - a new sausage made with olive oil is set to hit UK supermarket shelves next year.

Scan Foods UK - better known for Swedish meatballs - has developed a range of pork sausages under the brand Olive Hill Farm using a new process that replaces sat fat with extra virgin olive oil.

The sausages, which won multiple awards including best innovation at the Bpex Foodservice Awards last week, contain 5% olive oil and have on average 30% less sat fat than other premium pork sausages.

Scan said it was in “advanced” talks with retailers and hoped the sausages would be listed in January. The range would appeal to consumers seeking healthier options, said UK MD Thomas Olander.

“Sausage consumers will now not only be able to buy a fantastic new sausage, but it will be better for them too.”

The Olive Hill Farm range comprises six variants - pork pork & chorizo pork & apple pork & leek pork, feta & sundried tomato and pork & balsamic vinegar, all at an rsp of £2.99 for a 350g pack of six.

Scan also plans a range of deli meats made with olive oil next year.

The launch comes as the market for low-fat sausages is growing exponentially, with value sales up 17.1% and volume up 17.7% over the past year [Kantar Worldpanel 52 w/e 2 September 2012].