Is it true that the nitrates in lunch meats and hot dogs greatly increases risk for colon cancer?

Question

Is it true that the nitrates in lunch meats and hot dogs greatly increases risk for colon cancer?

Answer 1

When you cook foods high in "nitrites" at high temperatures, it produces nitrosamines.  Nitrites are added to meat to keep it red and looking fresh.  Nitrosamines have been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals.  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrosamine