Preservatives serve as antimicrobial agents that prevent the formation of mold, yeast and bacteria. They also prevent foods from rancidity, allowing food products a shelf life. However, preservatives have been linked to negative health outcomes in...
Sodium nitrite is a chemical that can be added to food to prevent spoiling and to increase preservation. It is also created naturally in the body by the conversion of sodium nitrate to nitrite. Therefore, foods that are high in sodium nitrate are...
Processed foods are a part of the American diet, even though the USDA Dietary Guidelines recommends that you replace these products with nutrient-dense foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds....
Nitrates are chemicals containing the nitrate ion, and at least one other atom or molecule. Nitrate compounds have been recognized for centuries as effective food preservatives and curing agents. Today, nitrates and their sister compounds remain...
Nitrates, naturally occurring compounds consisting of oxygen and nitrogen, are found in soil, water and a number of foods, such as vegetables. Nitrates themselves are not harmful. Cured meats may contain nitrates as preservatives. Once eaten,...
Sodium nitrite is a food preservative that also gives cured and processed meats, such as ham and hot dogs, their characteristic pinkish color. Many vegetables, including spinach, celery, beets and cabbage, naturally contain large amounts of...
Nitrate salts were identified as a unique meat preservative agent in the 19th century. Related nitrite compounds remain valued today for their effect on meat color and flavor, while preventing the growth of potentially deadly microbes. Food...
Potassium nitrite should never be confused with potassium chloride or other potassium-containing compounds used as dietary supplements. Unlike these compounds, potassium nitrite has specialized uses in industry and food preparation. Although...
Cure hog belly with any combination of sugar, salt and smoke and you have bacon. Butchers sell bacon in same-size and same-thickness slices or in whole slabs. They sell the leftover ends from sliced slab bacon for seasoning or render them into...
When you're pregnant, you're eating for two in a very real sense. Substances you ingest -- both good and bad -- can pass through the placenta to your baby. Sodium nitrite, a preservative found in cured, smoked and processed meats such as hot dogs,...
Food preservatives are important in food manufacturing because they are used to lengthen the shelf life of a variety of products. From canned fruits, to protein bars, crackers and even turkey slices, almost every processed food uses preservatives...
Sodium nitrite is a chemical found naturally in many vegetables, including spinach, lettuce, cauliflower and beets. It is a common preservative and coloring agent in foods such as cured meats. Nitrite levels in foods concern health care...
Sodium nitrate is a relatively common food preservative that you'll find in a variety of products, particularly meats. However, while sodium nitrate helps prevent bacterial cultivation of meat products, it poses its own health risk in that it can...
Preservatives are used to keep foods fresh, retard spoiling and inhibit growth of harmful microorganisms, according to the Science Daily website. Antimicrobial chemicals retard growth of bacteria, mold and yeasts. Antioxidant chemicals slow...
Sodium nitrite is a salt of nitrous acid with the chemical formula NaNO2. It's often used as a preservative in meat curing to prevent the growth of dangerous bacteria like the ones that cause botulism. While its role in this regard is undoubtedly...
Although you may not recognize the name, sodium ascorbate is a form of vitamin C combined with the mineral sodium. Sodium ascorbate, a common food additive, serves as a preservative in foods, preserves color and retards the harmful effects of...
Sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite are two food preservatives with very similar chemical formulas, but different properties in the body. Sodium nitrate, with the formula NaNO3, helps prevent bacterial colonization of foods. Sodium nitrite, with the...
Consuming large amounts of sodium nitrite can be toxic, causing a number of health problems. In light of this, you should try to avoid sodium nitrite, sodium nitrate, and other nitrites and nitrates when possible. However, due to contaminated...
Many of the foods and substances that are safe for you to consume when you're not pregnant are unsafe during pregnancy. Some substances that aren't safe even when you're not pregnancy -- but that most people consume anyway -- are particularly...
Food that contains harmful chemicals or are genetically modified may increase your risks for cancer and other diseases. The Food and Drug Administration does not require food manufacturers to test new substances for safety or food labels to list...
Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by high blood sugar and increased risk of complications, including cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease and loss of vision and hearing. Cold cuts are processed meats and...
A diet focused on natural, organic food is essential to maintaining a healthy body, but the majority of food is laced with preservatives to make it last longer on supermarket shelves. Some of these preservatives may harm you when eaten in large...
Sodium nitrite is a common meat preservative and dye that has both harmful and healthful effects. Check packages of processed meats, such as bacon, hot dogs, sausage and sliced deli meats, and chances are you'll find the term on the ingredients...
Sodium nitrate is a food additive used primarily to retard spoilage and retain color in processed meat products such as luncheon meats. It can be frustrating trying to figure out which foods and food additives are compatible with gluten-free diets...
Meat preservatives have been used for hundreds of years as a means to extend the meat's shelf life by preventing bacteria from growing. While salt was previously used to cure and preserve meats, nitrates -- also known as nitrates -- have been...
While most people are aware of the dangers of cigarette smoking there are still many people who have yet to associate those same dangers with other types of smoking. Like cigarette smoking, cigar smoking has the potential to cause problems with...
Methods of food preservation spans centuries with simple tactics involving use of the natural elements like the sun for drying produce or cold temperatures to store meat. Modern preservation methods involve the addition of chemicals to food for...
Corned beef is a well known dish whose origins lie in the search for meat that could be stored for long periods without refrigeration. Corned beef's attractive taste also comes along with hefty quantities of fat, cholesterol and sodium. While...
Food contains nutrients essential for health, but it may also include chemicals that can increase your risk of disease. These chemicals can include pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, preservatives, artificial colors and flavors, and industrially...
