What ingredient is often used in "uncured" meat products that naturally converts to nitrites in the body?
Answer
Celery powder.
Manufacturers frequently market products as 'uncured' or having 'no added nitrates or nitrites' to appeal to consumers seeking cleaner labels. However, this often involves a substitution rather than elimination. These products frequently incorporate celery powder into their formulation. Celery powder is inherently rich in naturally occurring nitrates. Once ingested, the body's digestive processes readily convert these naturally derived nitrates into nitrites, achieving a similar preservation and coloring effect as directly added sodium nitrite, thus presenting a critical nuance for shoppers relying solely on the 'uncured' designation.
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