Pepperoni is a type of dried sausage, similar to salami, that is commonly used as a pizza topping in the United States. It is made from a mixture of ground beef and pork mixed with spices and flavorings, and salt and sodium nitrate are added to cure the meat. The cuts used to make pork-only pepperonis are the shoulder and belly, which have high-fat content, giving pepperoni pizza its superior taste. The primary ingredient in pepperoni is pork, but beef is also used in varying degrees. Turkey meat is also commonly used as a substitute, but the use of poultry in pepperoni must be appropriately labeled in the United States. Pepperoni can be consumed raw or cooked, and it contains high amounts of fat, salt, and sugar.