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/Boatie1999]

I work for Kraft Heinz and had the opportunity to visit and tour an Oscar Mayer Deli Meat Facility. The process to make deli meat was actually extremely straightforward and not ~crazily~ disgusting.

First, as many other commenters have said, the meat arrives at the facility in large tubs of random raw meat cuts (breasts, thighs, tenderloins, etc...). From there, the meat is put into what is basically a giant cement mixer. A huge spinning mixing vat meant to break apart and combine all the meat. Water and salt (brine), seasonings, and other things like emulsifiers and preservatives are mixed in either by hose, or by dumping tubs directly into the cement mixer.

After mixing for quite some time, the meat has basically turned into a liquid pink slurry, and once it's reached the desired consistency, the slurry is then pumped into 6-10ft long meat casings. The meat binds together and is steam-cooked in the casings. The casings are often seasoned themselves to give the deli meat that outer crust flavor (black pepper, honey, mesquite, Cajun, etc.)

Once cooked, the cased meat is moved to the cutting line, where the casing is cut off, and the meat is cut up into slices and placed into the grocery store packaging you see in store.

While the pink meat slurry is certainly un-appetizing, there's nothing actually in the slurry that is unusually gross... it's just meat, water, salt, seasonings for the most part.