Reading a recent news article about a Dutch fish processing firm using Sodium Nitrite for white fish processing I learned that the additive is associated with a higher risk of cancer when used in processing white fish. An English source states:

Sodium nitrite is cleared for use in meat products but is considered to be potentially cancer-causing when used with fish.

Source: Fish processing firm Foppen under fire for using banned products

Reading into why sodium nitrite would be harmful in combination with fish, but not with other foods, I couldn't find much except broader warnings against eating foods with e250, especially for pregnant women. E.g.:

Health effects are acute methemoglobinemia (haemoglobin loses its ability to carry oxygen). Early symptoms include irritability, lack of energy, headache, dizziness, vomiting, diaorrhea, laboured breathing and a blue-gray or pale purple colouration to areas around the eyes, mouth, lips, hands and feet (blue baby syndrome).

Source: UKFoodGuide



Wakingtimes (emphasis mine)

Are these warnings against eating anything with e250 scientifically justified, or is it all baloney (nudge nudge)? If so, why is it that it is banned for use in processing fish, but not meats?

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    "Baloney." I see what you did there. – Reinstate Monica -- notmaynard Jun 16 '15 at 17:01
  • Not all things that are poisonous in high quantities are good for you in low quantities just because some are. Unless you felt like a tiny bit of mercury in your diet? – Spork Jul 11 '15 at 16:42
  • FYI, nitrites are widely used on processed pork in the US – smci Jul 17 '19 at 20:16

There's good evidence for it.

"Red and processed meat consumption and risk of pancreatic cancer: meta-analysis of prospective studies" went over several related studies, including several focusing on nitrites. "Pancreatic Cancer and Drinking Water and Dietary Sources of Nitrate and Nitrite" states

Increasing intake of dietary nitrite from animal sources was associated with an elevated risk of pancreatic cancer among men and women (highest quartile odds ratios = 2.3, 95% confidence interval: 1.1, 5.1, for men and 3.2, 95% confidence interval: 1.6, 6.4, for women).

"Etiology of Pancreatic Cancer, With a Hypothesis Concerning the Role of N-Nitroso Compounds and Excess Gastric Acidity" also discussed this. "Meat and components of meat and the risk of bladder cancer in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study" studied this and found


A very good overview is given here. It states

A critical report in the long-lasting nitrite debate was a 1970 paper by Lijinsky and Epstein (1970) titled “Nitrosamines as Environmental Carcinogens” published in Nature, which showed that nitrosamines were potent and specific carcinogenic compounds.

Nitrosamines are not the same thing as nitrites. However,


"Relevance of nitrosamines to human cancer" is interesting, especially as it says,

Direct proof that such nitrosation reactions can occur was provided by Ender et al. (3) who identified NDMA in nitrite preserved fish-meal, and by Sander and Seif (4) who demonstrated the formation in vivo of a nitrosamine in the acidic conditions of the human stomach.

"NDMA", by the way, is N-nitrosodimethylamine.


No, it's not all baloney. There is serious evidence the nitrites can cause cancer. However, as a source I used before mentioned, studies have also shown that there are some benefits to nitrites. Admittedly, those don't nullify the cancer risk.


I have no idea. Also, as an interesting aside, it's okay for fish in the United States.

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  • 1
    Thank you for your answer. Just to add: it is not banned for red meats in Holland, of which I am sure as e250 was in the salami on my sandwich I ate while I wrote the question. – Spork Jul 12 '15 at 3:18

This seems to be a good summary of recent research. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/csem.asp?csem=28&po=10 Most of the page seems to point to nitrates as being bad for you.

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  • You should add in the relevant information. – HDE 226868 Jul 15 '15 at 20:58
  • Re: "We're looking for long answers that provide some explanation and context." My long comment was deleted by the moderator 'Oddthinking' before it was even completed. This was its replacement as indicated that the moderator wanted. – SeeBenClick Jul 16 '15 at 6:53

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