Is there a difference between the sodium nitrite found naturally present in vegetables, and the additive?

Question

Sodium Nitrite is a chemical added to meat as a preservative. As of late, it's gotten a pretty bad rap, but from what I've read, vegetables are an even greater dietary source of it than is meat, and frankly, the claims perpetuating it as carcinogenic are unsubstantiated.

So what's the truth?

Answer 1

Take a class in college level course in organic chemistry and you will learn exactly how the sodium nitrites in lunchmeat can cause cancer. I have never heard anything about naturally occuring nitrites in vegetables - what is your source? All I know is that the sodium nitrites and sodium erythrobates found in lunchmeat are carcinogenic. They are cheap preservatives and that's why lunchmeat producers won't stop using them.