Nitrates

Nitrate can co-contaminate groundwater with pesticide residues. Dietary nitrates become problematic when they form nitrosamines in the digestive system. Nitrate and atrazine can chemically react in an acidic stomach environment to form N-nitrosoatrazine. Nitrates are the one ingredient in bacon worth actively avoiding. N-nitrosoatrazine caused congenital malformations in up to 23% of chicken embryos in a poultry study. Sodium nitrate used as a curing agent has been linked to potential carcinogenicity. Nitrates are especially associated with pink processed meats such as ham, pork, and bacon. Nitrates are commonly used as preservatives in processed meats. Selecting bacon labeled 'no nitrates' is a meaningful quality criterion.