can ham do without nitrites?

In our charcuterie departments, the offer concerning nitrite-free products is quite limited. According to some scientific studies, nitrites are responsible for several cancers. A law therefore wishes to prohibit them. But these additives, beyond giving a pinker appearance to the ham, make it possible to extend the shelf life. The industrial can–he do without? Not all manufacturers are created equal. “Banning nitrites would mean condemning many craftsmen to death“says Bernard VallatPresident of the French Federation of Industrial Butchers caterers (FICT).

However, in an artisanal charcuterie in the Paris region, many products are made without nitrites. For the ham, they have been replaced by cooking salt and blackcurrant, raspberry and beetroot powder. The product, of quality, must be consumed quickly. For consumer associations, the industrial sector which distributes more than 80% of ham must be transformed. The National Food Security Agency must deliver its opinion before the summer.