Does Vitamin C Prevent Nitrosamine Formation What are Nitrites and Why are they in Hot dogs and What is the Connection to Cancer?

The Government Has Food Makers Add Ascorbic Acid to Hot Dogs and Cold Cuts to Try and Block Cancer-Causing Nitrosamines

Confusing would be an apt description of the whole controversy swirling around hot dogs, cold cuts and franks and the nitrite and nitrate in them. An article in the NY Times about hot dogs, food safety and cancer says “Don’t count on the hot dog label (and those on franks and cold cuts either) to help much. Those pricey “organic” and “natural” hot dogs often have more of the preservatives nitrate that is linked to cancer as that old-fashioned wiener”. But what are nitrites and why are they in hot dogs and cold cuts and what is the connection to cancer?

DOES VITAMIN C PREVENT NITROSAMINE FORMATION WHAT ARE NITRITES AND WHY ARE THEY IN HOT DOGS AND WHAT IS THE CONNECTION TO CANCER?

Nitrates occur naturally in foods and sodium nitrite is also added sometimes as a color fixative and preservative to prevent the growth of bacteria in meat and fish. In the digestive system, nitrates and nitrites can react to form nitrosamines which are cancer-causing chemicals.

People should be careful when consuming processed meats, as well as reduce the whole consumption since most of the studies link them with colon cancer.

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