Nitrates and Nitrites are salts that have traditionally been used to cure meats, developing that rich taste and deep red color you love. They also inhibit the growth of Botulism-causing bacteria and Listeria.
There is conflicting research in the medical community about whether nitrites in large amounts are harmful or beneficial to you, and because of confusion that has been created, deli meats have received a bad rap. But they are not the only foods that have nitrates or nitrites. For example, there are far more nitrates in a serving of many leafy-green vegetables—spinach, arugula, cabbage—than in any of our products. We believe nitrites are essential in assuring that our meats are the safest, highest-quality products on the market. That said, in our efforts to simplify our ingredient labels, we are working to replace our current nitrates and nitrites with natural sources of nitrites without compromising taste.