What are nitrates and nitrites and why are they in our food? Allison Senft

 Nitrites and nitrites...what are they and what do they do for our food? What do they do for us? The question of food additives is a big one these days. Why do we alter our food so much that it is becoming harmful to eat? In the case of the additive sodium nitrate/ite, we have come to see that it is not necessarily an "additive", rather it is often a naturally occurring substance that we find in many healthy foods. As well, the question of what harm it may cause us seems to be somewhat misunderstood. 

Typically nitrates are found in vegetables such as beets, celery, radishes, lettuce and spinach (Dietitians of Canada, 2022). These are healthy foods that many people eat often. On the other hand, nitrites are often added to beef, dairy, poultry and fish (and many processed meats) in order to improve the appearance and flavour, as well as to prevent the growth of bacteria (Dietitians of Canada, 2022). So if they occur naturally why might they be harmful? Well first of all, a person would have to eat A LOT of fresh vegetables in order to ingest too many nitrates. But second, the problem may not necessarily be that we have them in our foods, but that once they enter our body they are converted in our saliva and in our gastrointestinal tract into a potentially cancer causing chemical (Karwowska & Kononiuk, 2020). Therefore it is important to consider what foods you may be ingesting nitrates/nitrites in on a regular basis, and consider avoiding foods in which they may be added in large amounts. It is well known that processed meats contain these additives and often times it is possible that there are even large amounts of alternatives such as celery and beet extracts added as "natural preservatives". Don't be fooled, these are still nitrates/ites added to preserve the look and taste of the processed meats. And while there are some positives of consuming nitrates/ites, it is always better to eat foods with additives of any kind in moderation.

Ultimately if we are eating a healthy, well balanced diet, we are unable to avoid these chemicals in our food. Consuming organically grown vegetables may reduce our exposure to some nitrates/ites due to the lack of synthetic fertilizers in the growing process (Dowden, 2019). But they are a naturally occurring substance and therefore being aware of where we may find them can help us to be aware of just how much we are consuming.


Dietitians of Canada. (2022, May 9). The Truth about Nitrates in Food. Unlock Food. Retrieved January 18, 2024, from https://www.unlockfood.ca/en/Articles/Food-technology/The-Truth-about-Nitrates-in-Food.aspx

Dowden, A. (2019, March 12). The truth about the nitrates in your food. BBC. Retrieved January 18, 2024, from https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190311-what-are-nitrates-in-food-side-effects

Ingredi. (2019, May 8). Sodium Nitrate vs. Sodium Nitrite. Ingredi. Retrieved January 18, 2024, from https://ingredi.com/blog/sodium-nitrate-vs-sodium-nitrite-/

Karwowska, M., & Kononiuk, A. (2020, March). Nitrates/Nitrites in Food—Risk for Nitrosative Stress and Benefits. Antioxidants, 9(3), 241. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9030241


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