Naturally occuring nitrate/nitrite in foods

Abstract

A review of the occurrence of nitrate in unprocessed foods showed that high concentrations are frequently found in vegetables. Spinach and lettuce commonly exceed 1000 parts/10⁶ nitrate while, of the root vegetables, beets, turnips and radishes are similarly rich in nitrate. In general, the pulses contain less nitrate than leaf and root vegetables, and most fruits contain little nitrate. Fresh dairy produce is usually low in nitrate. Well waters in some agricultural areas may contain nitrate concentrations so high as to represent a hazard if used as the sole water source for infants, but municipal supplies in the UK rarely exceed 45 parts/10⁶ although they frequently approach this. It is concluded that vegetables and water supplies make a greater contribution to the mean weekly nitrate intake than do cured meats. Nitrite concentrations are usually very low in fresh, undamaged fruits, vegetables and drinking water but adverse storage conditions can lead to (mainly microbial) reduction of nitrate. In these circumstances vegetables naturally rich in nitrate may accumulate nitrite at concentrations which can be toxic to infants.