Additive
Sodium nitrite
High concern
Linked to health concerns. We’d skip products that lean on this.
What it is
Sodium nitrite. The pink in ham.
Why it’s used
Keeps cured meat looking fresh and discourages botulism.
What to know
Processed meats with nitrite are the ones to eat rarely — the concern is bowel cancer in that pattern, not one sandwich.
Who should skip
Pregnancy, and anyone cutting processed meat.
A gentler swap
Roast chicken, proper ham without the pink trick, or skip the slice.
You’ll see it in
Ham, bacon, hot dogs.
- Extra care in pregnancy
- Extra care for children
- Listed as an additive
Found in
- Hormel Black Label Bacon23
- Columbus Italian Dry Salame24
- Hormel Black Label Bacon27
- Oscar Mayer Bologna28
- Kirkland Bacon30
- Hillshire Farm Polska Kielbasa31
- Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage32
- Hot Pockets Pepperoni Pizza33
- Spam Classic33
- Totino's Party Pizza Pepperoni34
- DiGiorno Rising Crust Pepperoni34
- Tombstone Original Pepperoni35