why are nitrites and nitrates used in food processing? what is the concern over their use?
2007-10-27 13:55:51 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Nitrites and Nitrates are inorganic salts that are used to preserve food by destroying and preventing bacterial growth in the food.
Nitrites are also found in wine and can be beneficial in preventing heart disease. But since they are organic salts, prolonged exposure to them can cause difficulty in digestion and enzyme production. They should not be confused with table salt which is a completely different type of salt.
2007-10-27 14:22:10 · answer #1 · answered by Mr. Moleculo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nitrites are used to preserve food, both from microbial contamination and from oxidation. The danger is that they can form nitrosamines during cooking, making them very toxic. I'm not sure what nitrates are used for, but they are certainly not added for a purpose, they just happen to be there. Spinach contains tons of nitrate, for example, but it's just there because that's what spinach apparently makes.
Nitrates are converted to nitrites in the body, by the way.
2007-10-28 01:31:17 · answer #2 · answered by Rikounet 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The most common nitrate used in food processing is Sodium Nitrate which is common table salt. It is used for preserving food and taste. Too much salt in your diet causes high blood pressure so those who have a problem with high blood pressure have to warch their salt consumption very close.
2007-10-27 21:18:51 · answer #3 · answered by Tommiecat 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
i thought nitrate ions are harmful to the body as they may be a cause for cancer and they also affect our haemoglobin in some way.
2007-10-28 05:48:32 · answer #4 · answered by Gideon N 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋