Why does salt form on processed meat as it spoils?

Question

I’ve noticed this on lunch meats and meat snack snack sticks that have gone past it’s prime. Salt crystals form all over the surface.

In: Chemistry

Answer 1

Salts typically used to prevent food from going bad, are you sure it’s not mold?

Answer 2

That could be mold.

But it’s possible that it’s a really salty meat that has started to dry out. Leaving behind salt as the water evaporated. Look up a process called “efflorescence” it’s possible thats what’s happening.