Answer :According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), processed meat products may include, but are not limited to, bacon, deli/sandwich cuts, frankfurters, salami and sausage. Such products, derived from beef, pork, poultry or sheep, are processed and/or preserved beyond simply cutting, slicing, grinding, rolling or skewering. For example, processed meats may be canned, cured, brined or salted, pickled or smoked. Processed meats often contain nitrites, added as preservatives, stabilizers and coloring agents.
There are a number of “uncured” sausages/bacon/hotdogs on the market today. Would those be considered unprocessed? They don’t have nitrate and are not smoked (although they may have celery powder which I understand is a natural form of nitrate). They often have moderate amounts of fat (12g) sodium (600mg) and calories (180) per link/serving. But if used to flavor a pot of greens or a veggie frittata, these seem like they could be healthful options that encourage consumption of more veggies. If it is just ground meat & spices, how could that be bad (other than the salt & fat)?