What Effects Do Nitrates and Nitrites Have on Food?

Nitrates and nitrites are part of a curing process that does four things:

• Gives cured meats like ham and hot dogs a deep, meaty flavor
• Prevents the growth of bacteria that cause food borne illnesses
• Stops meat from turning grey
• Preserves products so they last longer

We use natural, plant-based nitrates at Applegate for one simple reason: They make our products better.