Is Nitrates & nitrites safe during pregnancy?
Mostly found in cured meats. Pregnancy evidence is limited; the clearer step is eating those meats heated to 165°F/steaming hot.
What the sources say
Nitrites are used to cure meats such as hot dogs, ham, bacon and deli meats. A large US case-control study (National Birth Defects Prevention Study) found no overall link between dietary nitrate, nitrite or nitrosamine intake and neural tube defects, oral clefts or limb defects, though a few subgroup associations with animal-source nitrites appeared; evidence is limited. In pregnancy, the clearer concern with these foods is Listeria: CDC advises heating deli meats, hot dogs and dry sausages to 165°F or until steaming hot. CDC sets no breastfeeding limit.
Common alternatives
Also listed as
sodium nitrite, sodium nitrate, potassium nitrite, potassium nitrate, nitrites, nitrates, e250, e251, e249, e252, curing salt, prague powder
Sources
- NIH/PubMed (peer-reviewed): Maternal dietary intake of nitrates, nitrites and nitrosamines and selected birth defects (Huber et al., 2013)
- CDC: Safer Food Choices for Pregnant Women
- CDC: Maternal Diet and Breastfeeding
Last reviewed . This is general information, not medical advice. Ask your doctor or midwife about your own situation.