Pepperoni Pizza Topping

Pepperoni is a spicy American variety of salami, typically made from cured pork and beef seasoned with paprika or other chili pepper. It is fermented and air-dried, giving it a firm texture and distinctive flavor. The curing process often involves nitrates or nitrites.

Manufacturers add pepperoni to provide a savory, spicy, and umami flavor, as well as a chewy texture. It is most commonly found as a topping on pizzas and in other savory baked goods like snack rolls and calzones.

As a processed meat product, pepperoni is regulated by the USDA and FDA for food safety. It is typically high in saturated fat and sodium. The 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend keeping saturated fat intake under 10% of daily calories, and the FDA Daily Value for sodium is 2,300 mg. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified processed meat, which includes pepperoni, as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1). JECFA and EFSA do not typically evaluate complex food products like pepperoni as individual ingredients.