Thanks Oddley and Aris for the prompt replies, seems I will be going the cautious route, I'll need to order some cures for the bacon and salami-making, methinks.
Re. the biltong, I'll probably stick to the recipe I have.
Aris, let us know how the droewors turns out, I've yet to try droewors, but it's only a matter of time.
I was not trying to knock HFW, his "Meat" cookbook has been brilliant, it just concerned me that I could be running the risk of serious poisoning without knowing it.