No, I wouldn't touch them with a bargepole. But I do remember my grandparents eating such things in the early 1960s. And British cuisine (?) has a long (centuries) history of potted meats and shrimps, which I guess these are trying to emulate. A bit like the French and pate.
Princes Beef Paste 75G, description: "Beef Paste with Minced Chicken". Price: £0.50 (≈ $0.70)
Good for him that he enjoys his four(!) "sandwiches with paste" for lunch, but this doesn't sound particularly appetizing.