Pepperoni is cured meat, typically prepared from a mixture of ground beef and pork. Next to that, chicken is sometimes used as an alternative. The curing process involves the addition of salt (sodium nitrite), paprika powder, flavor enhancer, and preservatives. BHA, BHT, and citric acid are the most common preservatives used in pepperoni production. BHA and BHT prevent the meat from going rancid, while citric acid preserves its flavor.