Nitrites-often listed as "sodium nitrite" on package labels - are preservatives primarily used to cure meats.
Nitrites are found in including ham, bacon, lunch meats, bologna, frankfurters, meat spreads, some smoke-cured fishes, and corned beef.
When the protein in meat (amines) interacts with the nitrite, cancer-causing compounds called nitrosamines are formed.
Special Note: Healing Gourmet does not endorse products containing nitrites.