Delicatessen kills according to an official report

LThe National Food Safety Agency (ANSES) is to make its expertise on the risks associated with the consumption of nitrites public on Tuesday July 12. According to our colleagues from Sunday newspaperwho obtained a summary of this document, the agency now recognizes that these preservatives, which are supposed to prevent the formation of bacteria and give the pink color to the ham, present a risk of cancer.

These chemical additives are found in nearly 75% of charcuterie products sold in supermarkets. The report shared by ANSES aims to “reduce the exposure of the population through proactive measures by limiting exposure through food” for the purposes of “health safety”. The document highlights “the existence of an association between the risk of colorectal cancer” and exposure to nitrites, reports The JDD.

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Nitrites responsible for colon cancer

“New epidemiological studies show that they increase the risk of cancer, details a source at the heart of the file. They are not dangerous in themselves; the toxicity comes from their association with other compounds in cold cuts and substances that are formed during their degradation in the digestive tract”, could we read in a WHO report, dated 2018, which attributed 4 000 cases of colon cancer from the consumption of deli meats, without linking them to nitrites.

ANSES now recommends reviewing the admissible daily doses according to the toxicity of nitrites. The agency also recommends paying attention to the quality of tap water, which is also too high in nitrates in places.