According to a review from the American Meat Science Association, recent studies at Iowa State University show that careful formulation and processing can produce vegetable-cured hot dogs and hams that are quite similar to their nitrite-cured models in color and flavor.

Parma produces hams - some 20 million of them a year - and famous Parmesan cheese.

In the incident, several small producers of Jinhua hams operated out of season and produced hams during warmer months, treating their hams with pesticides to prevent spoilage and insect infestation.

Along with agricultural pursuits, which included producing hams from a herd of Berkshire hogs, Lenoir operated several small-scale industries, including a sawmill and flour mill.

However, this appellation is not recognized in non-EU countries, particularly in United States and Canada, where various commercially produced hams of varying degrees of quality are marketed and sold as "Black Forest ham".

Farmers also produce smoked hams.

Sixteen of the 214 curing plants in Parma are producing hams approved for export to this country.

Several companies do produce surimi sausages, luncheon meats, hams, and burgers.

Mr. Bertolli was intent on recreating the intense flavors of Old World charcuterie, which he said were lost as small firms producing high-quality salamis and hams gave way to larger plants.