Unfortunately, when it comes to food labeling in the US, it’s not always what it seems. And for bacon, as with other processed meats such as cold cuts and ham, hot dog — The labels “cured” and “uncured” can be quite misleading.
Raw bacon is like putting lipstick on a pig, it’s still bacon. To understand why, let’s take a closer look at what’s rocking regarding both cured and uncured bacon.
The truth is, from a health standpoint, there is little practical difference between cured and cured bacon. Both mean to be cured or preserved in the truest sense of the word.
The use of “preserved” and “unpreserved” labels for processed meat is based on USDA labeling regulations. To be called aged meat, the meat must be treated with synthetic nitrites or nitrates. (The product ingredient list lists types such as potassium nitrite and sodium nitrite.)
Without these compounds, meat would rot. “Nitrite is particularly important because it has an inhibitory effect on microorganisms, especially Clostridium botulinum spores. [which cause botulism]Jeff J. Schindler, professor of meat sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and expert in popularized meats.
Nitrite and nitrate are also produced from natural sources such as celery salt, powders and juices and can be used in curing meat. Because they are not synthetic, the USDA requires meat processed with them to be labeled “raw” and “no added nitrates or nitrites.”
It’s a technical detail. The chemical composition of these hardeners is the same. “Nitrite is nitrite, regardless of its source,” Schindler says.
and as What Consumer Reports’ 2019 Deli Meat Inspection Finds“Raw” meat contains the same amount of nitrites and nitrates as “processed” products.
“People believe meat is healthier when it says ‘unsalted’ or ‘no added nitrates or nitrites’ on the label,” says Amy Kee, nutritionist at Consumer Reports. says Ting. “But it’s not.” Eliminating confusing labeling rules helps.
The USDA said it planned to propose a ban on these two terms for meat processed with any form of nitrate or nitrite in 2020, but has yet to do so.
Effects of Nitrates and Nitrites on the Body
Consumer Reports senior scientist Michael Hansen says nitrites and nitrates have the same impact on health regardless of their source. When broken down in the body in the presence of compounds found in proteins, nitrosamines may be formed. According to the National Cancer Institute, nitrosamines can increase the risk of certain types of cancer in humans.a 2021 review of 148 studies published in the European Journal of Epidemiology Those who ate the most processed meat were found to have a higher risk of breast, colon, rectal, and lung cancer.
Cancer isn’t the only health concern associated with processed meat.in 2020 review published in Diabetes & Metabolismfor every 50 grams (about 2 ounces) of processed meat consumed daily, the risk of type 2 diabetes increased by 46 percent.
Processed meats have also been linked to heart disease. People who ate about five ounces or more of processed meat a week had a 46 percent increased risk of heart attack or stroke compared to those who ate none at all. A study of approximately 134,000 people in 21 countries will be published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2021. The study found no link between eating unprocessed red meat or poultry and heart problems, and the researchers found that the preservatives and additives in processed meat had various health effects. pointed out that it may be possible to partially explain the
But if the nitrosamines produced by celery are harmful, does eating celery also cause harm? I’m here. “But vegetables contain very little protein, so nitrates and nitrites in vegetables are not easily converted to nitrosamines,” says Hansen.
And the nitrites and nitrates found in vegetables can actually help. “Plant-based sources of nitrate act as a source of nitric oxide in the body with the help of other plant components such as vitamin C and polyphenols found in these foods,” says a professor of nutrition at the University of America. Dean Norman Hoad said. Oklahoma Health Science Center in Oklahoma City. Nitric oxide production improves vascular health and blood pressure and may help enhance muscle function.
“Less is more when it comes to processed meats like bacon, whether salted or unsalted,” says Keating. “You don’t have to stop them completely, but they shouldn’t be part of your regular diet.”
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