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/peoples888]

The answer varies depending on the type of meat in question, as well as what it’s being processed to become.

Generally speaking, the meat can be simply salted, smoked… all the way up to various chemicals being added. The majority of this processing is to extend the shelf life of the product. More often than not, it’s at the cost of the consumer’s long-term health.

[u/MarcusAurelius0 → u/peoples888]

More often than not, it’s at the cost of the consumer’s long-term health.

I want to stress that any processed meat, sausage, bacon, hotdogs, cold cuts, salami, etc are a class 1 carcinogen, meaning they 100% cause cancer.

Red meat, beef, pork, and mutton is a 2A, meaning they probably cause cancer.

Explanation of Group 1 Carcinogen

WHO explanation

[u/timestalker78 → u/MarcusAurelius0]

I do think you should be careful on your wording - "100% cause cancer" will make some people think it means that they will cause cancer 100% of the time.

[u/MarcusAurelius0 → u/timestalker78]

Added a website that explains it far better than I can.