These additives can lead to the formation of cancer-causing chemicals called nitrosamines. According to studies they are known to cause DNA damage and increased cellular degeneration. Studies have shown a link between increased levels of nitrates and increased deaths from Alzheimer's, diabetes mellitus and Parkinson's and cancers including colon cancer. For me the most telling proof that we should not be eating them...in the 1970s the USDA tried unsuccessfully to ban the use of sodium nitrate.
So now it probably seems very reasonable why I have been limiting my families access to sodium nitrates and opting for more healthy alternatives. It is now so much easier to avoid them! More and more products are being offered now because of concerned consumers. Maple Leaf has a Natural Selections line that our family has been using for about a year. The ingredients list on the ham we buy has only ham, water, honey, sea salt, lemon juice concentrate, vinegar, smoke flavour, cultured celery extract, cane sugar. Just look at some of the other deli meat labels in the grocery store, certainly not as appetizing like this ingredient list! The Natural Selections has turkey, ham, roast beef, salami but alas no hot dogs.
However just recently in Canada, Schnieder's (also a Maple Leaf product) has released a new line of products called Country Naturals which you can purchase anywhere. Finally, hot dogs without the ugly stuff. We had some of these hot dogs tonight for the first time and they were great! Both Mom and kids were pleased!
Product Links
http://www.schneiders.ca/en/Products/Countrynaturals
http://www.mapleleaf.ca/en/market/butcher/cold-cuts-and-deli-meats/natural-selections/
Sites Referenced
http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/06/04/05/12-dangerous-food-additives-the-dirty-dozen-food-additives-you-really-need-to-be-aware-of.htm
http://www.livestrong.com/article/264732-sodium-nitrate-free-foods/#ixzz1QXNJvKCc
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_nitrate
3 comments:
Google "celery extract and nitrates" and you will see that celery extract has a very high nitrate level--the same or more than nitrates that are added to processed meats. Your body still gets the same amount of nitrates only it is now marketed to look "natural". Nitrates are nitrates and if you google CBC News "Maple Leaf Cooked Ham" it will give you more info.
Thank you for the post! You sent me on a path of further exploration!
Apparently, there is a difference between nitrite additives and nitrites that occur naturally in vegetables. Vegetables with nitrites also contain high levels of vitamins A and C, which it is theorized work to block the formation of carcinogenic nitrosamines in our stomachs. Just because I was curious I did also launch a phone call to Maple Leaf to get their take.
Here is what they shared:
- Some of the ingredients used do contain naturally occurring components which can provide a preservative function in the product. There is a difference in the nitrates though. The celery based nitrate is better for you as it is naturally occuring. Some other features of the products are:
- No animal by-products in the feed.
- No hormones (They are actually banned in Canada period by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFI))
- Antibiotic free (Antibiotics are allowed by CFI with guidelines)
- Contains no added preservatives, artificial ingredients, fillers or MSG.
According to many different reports, hot dogs do not decompose for years and years in landfills due to the fact that landfills are too tightly compacted. Just this alone is enough to convince me that hot dogs should not be eaten. BTW, I enjoy your blog and am planning a move to NB in the near future.
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