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Yet, from an industry perspective, bologna is a triumph of food science. It is an efficient use of animal protein that might otherwise go to waste. It is a staple that provides affordable nutrition to millions. The irony is that the very standardization we find suspicious is exactly what makes the food safe and reliable for mass consumption. When you buy a package of bologna, you are purchasing a product that has been pasteurized, preserved, and quality-controlled to an extent that would be impossible for an artisanal Mortadella. You are trading flavor complexity and textural integrity for the security of a product that is identical every single time you open the package.
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