On March 28, 2023, the EU Food Safety Agency published its assessment. This study focuses on the nitrosamines present in food that pose a risk to the public’s health.  These chemical compounds are not intentionally added but they are formed during the preparation and processing of food and are present in a variety of food items including cured meats, processed fish, and beer, dairy products, soy sauce, and pickled.

It was found that 10 nitrosamines are genotoxic, which means they may damage DNA, and carcinogenic, which means they cause cancer. All nitrosamines present in food had the same potential to cause cancer in humans as the most hazardous nitrosamine. The EU agency evaluated consumer exposure as well as any potential harm that nitrosamines could do to humans and animals during the course of its assessment. They have warned that the consumption of processed food leads to more health problems.

There are some knowledge gaps regarding the presence of nitrosamines in particular food categories at the moment. A wider variety of foods in the diet may help consumers reduce their nitrosamine intake.

According to the findings, the level of exposure to nitrosamines in food raises a health concern for all age groups across the EU population. However, the assessment emphasized that there are gaps in our understanding of the presence of nitrosamines in particular food categories and that there is a dearth of information on a number of significant food categories. Adding more variety to the diet could be a crucial step in assisting consumers in lowering their intake of nitrosamines.

The European Commission will now receive the EFSA’s recommendation and discuss it with the relevant national authorities. The opinion is timely given the heated debate over the use of nitrates and nitrites, which are frequently used to preserve meat and other perishable foods.