A new study has revealed that ham and bacon sold by major UK supermarkets, including Tesco and Marks and Spencer, still contain cancer-causing nitrites nearly ten years after the World Health Organization (WHO) classified them as unsafe. The analysis, commissioned by the Coalition Against Nitrites and conducted by Food Science Fusion and Rejuvetech, tested 21 products and found nitrites in all of them.
Tesco's Wiltshire ham had the highest concentration at almost 33 milligrams per kilogram, which is 11 times higher than its cooked ham and nearly four times its unsmoked bacon. Other Wiltshire ham products from M&S (28.6 mg/kg), Sainsbury's (21.1 mg/kg), and Morrisons (19.2 mg/kg) also showed elevated levels, though Asda's version contained only 8 mg/kg. All levels were below the legal limit of 150 mg/kg.
Food campaigners described the findings as alarming, and Cancer Research UK noted that 13% of the 44,100 annual bowel cancer cases in Britain are linked to processed meat consumption. The charity advises eating as little processed meat as possible to reduce cancer risk. The WHO declared nitrite-cured meats a Group 1 carcinogen in 2015.
A spokesperson for the Coalition Against Nitrites expressed disappointment that high-nitrite products remain on sale despite the decade-old warning. Professor Chris Elliott, who led the horsemeat scandal investigation, called for urgent action to remove nitrites from diets, citing mounting evidence of cancer risk. Some retailers, such as Waitrose and Finnebrogue, have already introduced nitrite-free bacon.
Tesco defended its products, stating they comply with UK and EU regulations and that nitrites are essential for preventing food poisoning. The British Retail Consortium emphasised that food safety remains paramount, with all products meeting legal standards.
