With the current interest in the possible health promoting effects of microorganisms, opportunities exist for the incorporation of LAB as probiotic culture into fermented meat products including Nham. Based on the current regulation, the documentation for substantiation of health claims for probiotics is challenging. Accurate data on the health-promoting activities of probiotic bacteria in vivo both animal and human intervention trials would greatly aid the development of a completely new generation of fermented functional foods tailored to contain clinically-proven health-promoting microorganisms and/or nutrients. Future prospects to exploit the potential health-promoting properties of such foods will continue to expand as we gain a greater understanding of the microorganisms concerned and how they, or their metabolites, can directly interact in a positive way with the human host.