Nitrites
In 2010, The International Agency for the Research on Cancer (IARC) classified nitrites as a 2B Carcinogen or “probably carcinogenic.” Therefore, placing nitrites in the category alongside “working the night shift” or “diesel engine exhaust.” - Jacob Farr
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image by: Gintaras Naglis
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The Truth About Nitrite in Lunch Meat
If all nitrites were to form nitric oxide in the body, Bryan said, "there's no concern whatsoever." People who use proton pump inhibitors, a common class of acid suppressants, may be an exception, he added, because the diminished acidity in their stomachs may allow for the growth of bacteria that produce nitrosamines.
Despite the growing indications that nitrite is safe for most people, don't pull out the celebratory pepperoni just yet.
"Multiple [epidemiological] studies have found a relationship between processed meat intake and increased risk of colorectal cancer," said Amanda Cross, an investigator in the division of cancer epidemiology and genetics at the National…
Resources
Are Nitrates and Nitrites Misunderstood?
Nitrates and nitrites have had a reputation for being toxic to human health for a number of decades, but their association with poor health outcomes may be unfounded.
Nitrites: One Reason Our Food is Safe and Bacon is Tasty
Their use in food preservation is nothing new. The Romans were the first to note the benefits of nitrites as early as 850 B.C. While it remains a key component of many products to this day, its use is misunderstood. Let’s learn more about this food ingredient and what it adds.
Stop adding cancer-causing chemicals to our bacon, experts tell meat industry
Starkest warning yet about nitrites that turn cured products pink.
Are Nitrates and Nitrites in Food Bad For You?
In recent years, you have likely heard of nitrates and nitrites in a negative light. Most notably, you recognize them as possibly harmful preservatives used in processed meat products. Although there may be some truth to this thought, there is much more to know about nitrates and nitrites before completely writing them off.
Nitrites & Nitrates: Are They Harmful Or Actually Healthful?
There's no simple answer. Whether nitrates and nitrites are a boon or a blight may depend heavily on what foods they come from and the particular human ingesting them. One thing is for sure: Nitrates' and nitrites' reputation as avoid-at-all-cost, cancer-causing nasties does not appear to be entirely accurate.
The Medical Controversy On Nitrates and Nitrites
The main purpose of these chemicals as they are currently being used is cosmetic, to retain the bright red color in the meats during processing and cooking, rendering them more appetizing to the eye than they would be if they turned the normal brown color of cooked meat. Neither nitrate nor nitrite are cancer hazards as such. But when combined with amines (substances found in proteins, cigarette smoke, beer, wine, many patent medicines, prescription drugs, and even within the body itself), they form nitrosamines that have induced cancer in numerous laboratory animals.
The Truth About Nitrite in Lunch Meat
The preservative sodium nitrite fights harmful bacteria in ham, salami and other processed and cured meats and also lends them their pink coloration. However, under certain conditions in the human body, nitrite can damage cells and also morph into molecules that cause cancer.
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