Manufactured Meat

[FelixtheDog]

I bought a pack of shaved leg ham recently & it said it was Manufactured Meat. I thought it was just shaved leg ham but the ingredients listed Dextrose, food acid, sodium nitrite, antioxidant, mineral salts, water and SUGAR of all things. Can anyone tell me why all this goes into it & how is it made?

[nickmo]

Mouth feel, flavouring, preservatives, shelf life, 'reclaimed' meat spun in a centrifuge and passed though a seive, boiled and cut with a water jet, anti-fungal agents, sweetner as the meat is tasteless alone, water 'cos its cheap but adds bulk....yum!

Just buy a nice slice of ham on the bone...

[FelixtheDog]

thanks nickmo, I just wonder what is the additive that creates 'mouth feel'?

[nickmo]

Mouth feel means not just the texture but as you begin to digest from bite 1, the sugars give an instant message about the food to the brain.

The meat has to meet minimum nutrition levels as well - hence the mineral addition I would surmise - and the balance of extra water to bulk it and the sugars/salts to flavour is the trick to get the texture.