Nitrates

Nitrates are all over the place – especially in vegetables. However, we’re warned to stay away from processed meat because it contains nitrates. Why this particular warning?

Nitrates are generally used as a preservative in meat. This is why “processed meat” – like sliced deli meat – tends to be high in nitrates.

So, why are nitrates a problem in meat but on vegetables? Well…it’s complicated. It has to do with their preparation, their digestion, and with the other molecules present in processed meat and how they interact with the nitrates. So, it’s not the nitrates themselves that are the problem, it’s the combination of them with several other things in processed meats that cause the formation of N-Nitroso Compounds (NOCs). These are actually what create a cancer risk.

The science is not 100% accepted. Several studies have produced inconsistent results. And even if true, they increased risk from nitrates in processed meat is quite small.

Why I Looked It Up

I had heard about the problems with nitrates in meat, but also became aware that most of the nitrates we consume are in vegetables. I was confused by this.