Nitrates were in the news again last month as scientists call on the UK government to ban the use of nitrates and nitrites in processed meats.
One of our key values is to promote “Real Food” that is more a product of Nature than a product of Industry. Bramblebee Farm’s Nitrate Free Bacon is a classic example of how bacon used to taste……before intensive farming and food production.
Commercially cured bacon takes just a few days to make whereas Bramblebee’s natural bacon takes several weeks to cure and the taste is worth the wait!
More on Nitrates….
Nitrates and nitrites added to processed meats like bacon and ham help preserve colour, enhance flavour, and prevent harmful bacteria. However, when cooked at high heat, they can react with proteins to form nitrosamines — compounds linked to an increased risk of colon cancer. Choosing nitrate-free bacon reduces exposure to these additives, which some people prefer for a more natural ingredient list.
Although vegetables such as spinach, lettuce, kale are naturally high in nitrates, these are considered safe. According to Professor Chris Elliott OBE of Queen’s University Belfast, the concern is not the nitrites themselves but the chemical reaction with proteins in processed meat that forms potentially harmful nitrosamines.
While some scientists have called for a ban on nitrates in processed meats, the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) states that current permitted levels are safe and keeps them under review.
We can’t advise on what is and isn’t safe. However, we will say that happy pigs and natural ingredients make sense!
Bramblebee Farm keep rare breed Gloucester Old Spot pigs, they live in small family groups – free ranging their whole lives.
Bramblebee dry cure all their bacons in house using a special blend of only natural ingredients – curing salts and a little sugar and secrets.
The ingredients are rubbed into the bacon. rubbing. re-curing and draining the fluids from the bacon every day. Once the curing time has finished, the bacons are rinsed and hung to dry – it gets better with age. The whole process is slow and takes TIME!
