A featured video shows how the ham is made, prompting many reactions, with several people saying they will never eat ham again.
This video above shows a pink, sticky substance mixed together to achieve a velvety soft texture, which is then poured into tin molds. The mixture is molded to resemble the shape of a baguette. After this step, the mixture is cooked and cut, resulting in what we recognize as packaged deli meats. “I don’t want to believe this,” is the dominant comment under the post. Within hours millions of people shared this video.
Several netizens who have worked in such factories have clarified that deli meats are usually made from “mechanically deboned pieces of meat, ground into paste”, which are then shaped and sliced, exactly as shown in the video. This would be the case in particular for chicken nuggets or even turkey charcuterie.
Ultra-processed foods like the one shown in the video are food products that have undergone multiple industrial transformations, incorporating many ingredients, often added for their preservative power, flavor or texture. These ingredients may include colors, preservatives, sweeteners, emulsifiers, and other additives that are not commonly used in home cooking. Ultra-processed foods are often ready-to-eat or reheat, such as prepared meals, processed meats, or even snacks.
If the behind-the-scenes revelation of how deli meats are made weren’t enough to deter consumers, experts warn that eating processed deli meats is not recommended. But meat remains an important food to avoid iron deficiency because meat is the best source of iron.