Hi Lime Slice, I was just trying to point out the difference between our trditional perception of the meaning of the word "cooked" and the actual process involved in producing deli meats which is called "curing" as there are actuall "cooked" (in the traditional sense) deli meats, too. As in prosciutto cotto which is cooked AND cured. By the way, it is still regarded as "raw" after the cooking process and before it as been cured. Although curing has a similar effect on the meat as cooking, I think it confuses a little using the words interchangeably as they are 2 different processes (which arguably have a similar outcome). But curing preserves the meat in a way that mere cooking (as in boiling or baking) can't.

I would like to know where you get this info from that whole eggs (in their shell) are pasteurised by law in Australia. I just called Food Standards Australia and they said that it's not true. Egg products (as in eggs that have been removed from their shells) have to be pasteurised, but not the aggs in their shell.

...introduction of the availablility of unpasturised and unhomogenised soft cheeses and milk products...
Oh really? I didn't think that was allowed. As far as I'm aware, it is still illegal to sell raw milk products for consumption. I see how they can get away with selling raw milk as a bat milk. But how do they get away with selling raw milk cheese? As a facial? I would very much welcome this turn around. Not because I necessarily want to consume it, but because I would welcome having the choice.

Oh, and by the way, any type of meat processing is not very appetising to watch. And I completely agree with one of the PP. I would always try and avoid buying any pre-crumbed or marinated meat. Not only because of what kind of cuts they use, but also because I know that I use much nicer ingredients and it will taste better and be healthier if I do it myself.

ETA: I just googled home-made salami, and so far haven't found any article I found surprising, eye-opening or not for the faint-hearted. Can you PM me the link to the article you were referring to?

Saša