Potted meat food product
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Potted meat food product or simply potted meat is a canned meat product manufactured by several companies in the United States, most notably Hormel, Armour Star, and Libby's. The product is generally considered a product of the very poor, with cans often costing as little as US$.10 each. Potted meat product's reputation is further tainted by the inclusion of the words "food product" in the name after meat and the inclusion of mechanically separated chicken as a primary ingredient, also called mechanically separated poultry. Mechanically separated poultry is a paste-like poultry product produced by forcing crushed bone and tissue through a sieve or similar device to separate bone from tissue. Mechanically separated poultry has been used in poultry products since 1969 after the National Academy of Sciences found it safe for use. In 1995 the final rule on mechanically separated poultry said it was safe to use without restrictions. However, it must be labeled as "mechanically separated chicken or turkey" in the ingredient statement. The final rule became effective November 1996.
Potted meat, like other canned meat products, is often associated with low income Americans. It is particularly associated with poor rural white or redneck culture. However, the food is often associated with poor minority groups as well. Other groups, however, consume the foodstuff as well. Because of its small size, three-ounce cans are available, and the fact it is generally consumed with crackers, another food that has a long shelf-life, it is popular with military personnel as well as backpackers and campers. A lot of potted meat food product has been sent in care packages to Iraq. Again it is the unique characteristics of potted meat food product that has led to this. It contains no pork, which is banned in care packages, and the three-ounce size makes it easy and convenient for an individual to consume with no leftover to spoil. Potted meat food product is also the butt of jokes about poor rural culture in which it, served on plain saltine crackers, and served as hors d'œuvres.
[edit] Ingredients
Potted meat food product is certified safe by the FDA, however its rather unusual ingredients makes label reading a sport in itself. Here is the ingredient list from some of the main brands of potted meat food product.
- Armour Star: Mechanically separated chicken, Beef Tripe, Partially Defatted Cooked Beef Fatty Tissue, Beef Hearts, Water, Partially Defatted Cooked Pork Fatty Tissue, Salt. Less than 2 percent: Mustard, Natural flavorings, Dried Garlic, Dextrose, Sodium erythorbate, Sodium Nitrite.
- Hormel: Beef Tripe, Mechanically Separated Chicken, Beef Hearts, Partially Defatted Cooked Beef Fatty tissue, Meat Broth, Vinegar, Salt, Flavoring, Sugar, Sodium Nitrite.
Like Spam and Treet, Potted Meat Food Product has a cult following on the internet. It appears to have a larger following than Treet, but much smaller than Spam.
