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Index/Topics/Nitrates and Nitrites

Nitrates and Nitrites

Nitrates and nitrites are associated with an increased risk of certain cancers, including colorectal and breast cancer.

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Jan 23, 2026
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What specific mechanisms link nitrites in processed meats to cancer formation?

are implicated in cancer primarily because they can be chemically converted—inside the food or the body—into that react with amines to form N‑nitroso compounds (NOCs), including nitrosamines, some of ...

Jan 18, 2026

What specific preservatives in deli meats have the strongest epidemiological links to cancer?

Multiple recent epidemiological analyses identify a handful of specific food preservatives—especially nitrate/nitrite curing agents and a smaller group of sorbates, sulfites and acetate-type acids—as ...