Tesco’s new nitrite-free range spans eight bacon and ham products made from 100 percent British pork, reflecting shifting consumer attitudes towards curing additives in processed meat.
Tesco has launched a new range of bacon and ham made without added nitrites, as interest in products containing fewer curing additives continues to grow.
The supermarket said online searches for products without added nitrites have increased by more than 360 percent year-on-year. Its new own brand range includes four bacon products and four varieties of cooked ham, all made using 100 percent British pork.
The launch comes as consumers and food manufacturers pay increasing attention to the role of nitrates and nitrites in processed meat and their potential links to health.
We’re excited to launch our Tesco Made Without Added Nitrites range designed to give our customers greater choice without compromising on taste. Our product development teams and supplier partners have worked hard to develop a great quality range made from 100 percent British pork that is perfect for mealtimes.”
Richard Wood, Meat, Fish, Poultry, Eggs and Dairy Director
What is in the new range?
Tesco’s new products include unsmoked and smoked back bacon, unsmoked and smoked streaky bacon, as well as cooked ham, wafer-thin ham, oak smoked ham and honey roast ham.
The bacon range will be available in 668 larger Tesco stores from 21 September, with the ham products following from 12 October.
The launch gives consumers another option within a category where health considerations are increasingly influencing product development. However, products made without added nitrites are still processed meats, meaning the wider dietary guidance around processed meat remains relevant.
The NHS advises people not to eat too much red or processed meat and says that eating higher amounts of processed meat probably increases the risk of bowel cancer.
Why are consumers moving away from nitrites?
Nitrates and nitrites are commonly used to cure meat, helping control harmful bacteria while contributing to colour, flavour and shelf life. However, nitrite can also contribute to the formation of N-nitroso compounds, including nitrosamines, some of which are carcinogenic.
The concern sits within the wider evidence around processed meat. The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies processed meat as carcinogenic to humans, based on evidence linking its consumption to colorectal cancer. However, this does not mean nitrites are solely responsible for that risk.
The UK Food Standards Agency says the evidence specifically linking nitrate and nitrite food additives to health risks remains inconclusive, highlighting the need for further research.
As shoppers continue to make more informed choices when it comes to pork products, UK supermarkets like Tesco, and Waitrose earlier this year, are continuing to respond and expand the range of alternatives available to consumers.
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