Interpretive Summary: Processed meats: the intersection of legacy and progress

By: Wesley N Osburn

Implications

• Processed meat is a vital component of the global food industry.
• The ability to preserve traditional preservation techniques while addressing current and future needs is vital to the industry’s ability to be a viable food source.

Processed meat products may be defined as products manufactured from meat (beef, pork, poultry, fish, etc.) and/or offal products, liver, heart, etc.) that are formulated with ingredients that serve a specific product function—taste, texture, color, shelf-life, and/or safety and may undergo a series of mechanical processes, such as grinding, chopping, blending, marination, injection, tumbling, curing, smoking, and cooking. Although this definition (or variations thereof) is understood and accepted by meat industry or meat science professionals, it is not as clearly understood by the public or the media who report on it. Regardless of the definition used, there is no doubt that the term “processed meats” tends to evoke a negative reaction.

Read the full article in Animal Frontiers: Current Topics in Meat Processing.