HealthJuly 17, 2026
nitrite
/ˈnaɪtraɪt/
Definition
A chemical compound used as a food additive, primarily in cured meats, to act as a preservative and to maintain color and safety.
Etymology
Derived from the chemical element nitrogen, combined with the suffix '-ite' used for salts of acids ending in '-ous.' It entered scientific English in the early 19th century to describe specific nitrogen-based chemical compounds.
In the news
In this article, industry groups cite nitrites as essential functional ingredients that provide food safety, arguing that their presence should not be the sole basis for classifying a food as 'ultra-processed.'
FDA and USDA face three-way fight over UPF definition
Read the full article ↗FoodNavigator.com