# Roast beef query...

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roast-beef-query/546411>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [July 12, 2010, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roast-beef-query/546411 "2010-07-12T16:27:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roast-beef-query/546411/1 "2010-07-12T16:27:07Z")

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So I got this package of deli-cut roast beef from the market a while ago. I open it up, and find something I’ve never seen before: little specks of white stuff all over it. They’re kind of hard, but melt under my fingers when I rub/press it.

Given that, I’m assuming it’s fat (and given that I’ve eaten four sandwiches with this roast beef since then). But how/why did this happen? Does it have something to do with the coldness of the insulated pack I bring my lunch in, or is it something that happened in manufacturing?

(Or, if this isn’t fat, let me know how long I have to live! :D)

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**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roast-beef-query/546411/2 "2010-07-12T16:36:14Z")

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Your description sounds like the white stuff is fat. When chilled, melted fat re-solidifies and appears white. Perhaps they didn’t prepare the stuff for packaging correctly. (I’d be more worried about the salt content than the fat content of deli meats.)