Scientists have uncovered more than 20 food products from UK supermarkets containing carcinogenic chemicals, prompting a warning to British shoppers.
Nearly a decade after international health authorities raised the alarm about the toxins in processed meats, high street retailers continue to stock nitrate-laden products.
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21 items across major supermarkets were found to contain nitrites
Of all the food items tested, Wiltshire ham was found to contain the most substantial nitrite concentrations.
Tesco’s version registered nearly 33mg/kg, 11 times the 2.88mg/kg in its cooked ham and almost four times the 8.64mg/kg in its unsmoked bacon.
Relatively high levels of nitrites were found in Wiltshire ham products sold across other supermarkets.
Marks & Spencer recorded a concentration of 28.6mg/kg, while Sainsbury’s recorded 21.1mg/kg, followed by Morrisons at 19.2mg/kg. Meanwhile, Asda’s version contained 8mg/kg.
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The production method for Wiltshire ham involves injecting pork with nitrates before immersing it in brine containing nitrites, triggering chemical reactions that convert nitrates to nitrites while imparting the characteristic red colouration.
Just 10 years ago, the World Health Organisation published a landmark report warning about the dangers of nitrite consumption, declaring it “probably carcinogenic to humans”.
The dangers of processed meats are widely known, with 34,000 annual cancer deaths linked to nitrite-cured meats, found by the Global Burden of Disease Project in 2015.
Indeed, health authorities estimate that processed meat consumption is behind approximately 13 per cent of Britain’s annual bowel cancer diagnoses.
With roughly 44,100 new cases identified yearly, this figure translates to thousands of preventable cancers linked to dietary choices.
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Processed meat consumption is behind approximately 13% of Britain’s annual bowel cancer diagnoses
Yet despite these well-documented health risks and the passage of nearly 10 years since the WHO’s stark warning, nitrite-containing products remain ubiquitous on British supermarket shelves.
Retail representatives have pointed out that their products comply with existing food regulations, with Tesco emphasising its products “fall significantly below the legal limits in the UK and EU”.
A spokesperson added: “Nitrates and nitrites are an important part of the curing process for some meats, and they are used to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria that cause serious food poisoning.”
Food Science Fusion Director Ruth Dolby told the Independent: “Nitrites were originally used as the most effective preservatives from a food safety perspective. There are legal upper limits, but no legal lower limits.
“Food Science research and understanding have taken great leaps in the last 20 years. We now know that there are alternative, natural, equally effective ingredients that have less negative impact on the human body and the environment, especially the water courses.”
To reduce your risk, Cancer Research advises: “If you’re eating processed and red meat most days of the week, it’s a good idea to think about cutting down, to reduce your risk of bowel cancer.
“Consider eating processed meat as little as possible, and eating no more than three portions of red meat a week.”
GB News has contacted Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, and Asda for comment.