News f2s wrote:
It is soaked in lye for several weeks, then rinsed many
times and finally boiled.

What chemical is lye?

i don't know, but it's a base/alkaline. it might be sodium hydroxide.
same principle as soaking something in acid, except as a base ... the
goal being to make an unhealthy environment for bacteria to grow in,
one that they don't like. bacteria don't like dryness (drying or
smoking), alkaline/acids (pickling), too much salt (salting),
radiation, too much heat (cooking/canning), cold (freezing), too much
sugar (candying), etc.