Can sodium nitrate cause cancer

Answer 1

Nitrates (and nitrites) may cause (bowel) cancer. They are used primarily to preserve deli counter meats (salami, ham, bacon etc...), which is why the government recommends not to eat processed meats to regularly (possibly along with a higher salt content). However you would have to eat a significant amount of these meats regularly to actually increase you risk of getting cancer. (Although people who eat a lot of processed meats are at higher risk of bowel cancer, it is also more likely that these people eat less fruit/veg on average, and possibly they eat generally less healthily anyway. So whether eating the meat is a cause, or a symptom of possibly getting bowel cancer is a little unknown. Use your own judgement. )