Sodium Nitrate/Sodium Nitrite

The world loves bacon. Well, most people do. What people don’t love is preservatives, coloring, and added flavors in bacon. Sodium nitrate (or sodium nitrite) is used to preserve the shelf life of most processed meats. While it sounds like another pronounceable chemical, it’s highly carcinogenic once it’s in your system.

The USDA recognized the danger of nitrates in the ’70s but couldn’t ban them due to backlash from packagers. Nitrates keep old, lackluster meats looking healthy and vibrant, which is yet another reason to avoid them.