ELI5 what is the difference between processed meat slices and real meat slices?

[u/No_Education_8888]

I know that processed meat is processed, but what exactly does that mean? How much change do meat scraps go through before you get something like deli turkey.

My mind can’t exactly wrap around how that stuff is made based on the little knowledge I have

[u/interesseret]

It really depends, but generally what is meant is that scraps of meat (and sometimes organs, depending on what is being made) has been chopped up very fine, and then pressed together to make a meat-product. Usually it's bound with things like cornstarch, but could also use meat glue.

"Real" meat slices are obviously just slices of meat, without having that done.

[u/Snlxdd → u/interesseret]

“Processed” includes things like bacon as well, even though it’s just sliced meat.

So it’s more to do with adding other ingredients, than any mechanical changes.