Pepperoni is a type of dried sausage, similar to salami, that is often used as a pizza topping or in sandwiches. It is made from a mixture of ground pork and beef, with pork being the most typical ingredient. The cuts used to make pork-only pepperoni are the shoulder and belly, which have high-fat content, giving pepperoni pizza its superior taste. The meat is then mixed with spices and flavorings, such as paprika, garlic, black pepper, crushed red pepper, cayenne pepper, mustard seed, and fennel seed. Salt and sodium nitrate are added to cure the meat, which prevents the growth of unwanted microorganisms. Lactic acid bacteria are injected into the ground meat to lower the meat’s pH balance, allowing it to become better preserved for later consumption. Pepperoni doesn’t get its color until after nitrate is added.

In the United States, pepperoni is typically made of pork and beef, but there are also mixed varieties that consist of pork and beef being ground and encased together. Some manufacturers also offer substitutes like turkey pepperoni or beef pepperoni, which do not contain pork. It is important to read the list of ingredients on the back of the packaging to learn the exact meat your pepperoni contains.

It is worth noting that pepperoni is a highly processed meat product that contains high amounts of fat, salt, and sugar. While it contains significant amounts of micronutrients needed for building our body cells, it is not considered a healthy food. Additionally, dogs should not eat pepperoni because of its highly processed nature, and cats can only eat a little bit of it as it has high levels of fat, protein, spices, and preservatives that can cause gastrointestinal issues.