What is Sodium Nitrate and Sodium Nitrite?
They are USDA/FDA approved and regulated ingredients used as a curing agent in conjunction with Sodium Erythorbate. They are not preservatives although they retard the growth of harmful bacteria. Using modern curing techniques, fully cured meats retain very little residual nitrates or nitrites (usually no more than 7 to 10 parts per million) – much less that is found naturally in spinach.
