Is Jimmy Dean All Natural Sausage Nitrate Free? Decoding the Label for Your Nutrition Diet

October 15, 2025 •

5 min read

According to research from Harvard Health, naturally occurring nitrates found in fruits and vegetables are not linked to health issues, but nitrates added to processed meats have raised health concerns. This crucial distinction creates confusion for consumers trying to eat healthier, leading many to ask: Is Jimmy Dean all natural sausage nitrate free? The answer lies in the fine print of food labeling, revealing that 'natural' doesn't always mean what you think it does.

Quick Summary

Jimmy Dean's "All Natural" sausage is not entirely nitrate-free, as it uses naturally-sourced nitrates from ingredients like celery powder for curing. The presence of these compounds, though natural in origin, can still contribute to potential health risks similar to synthetic nitrates, particularly when cooked at high temperatures. Consumers should carefully read ingredient lists to understand what preservatives are being used.

Key Points

Not Truly Nitrate-Free: Jimmy Dean "All Natural" sausages use naturally occurring nitrates from ingredients like celery powder for curing and preservation, even though no synthetic nitrates are added.
Decoding Food Labels: The term "No Nitrates or Nitrites Added*" with an asterisk indicates the use of natural nitrate sources, which function similarly to synthetic ones in the meat.
Source Matters for Health: While nitrates in antioxidant-rich vegetables can be beneficial, nitrites in processed meats can lead to the formation of harmful nitrosamines, especially when cooked at high heat.
Read the Ingredients List: To ensure you are choosing a truly nitrate-free product, look for fresh sausage without any curing agents like celery powder, and consider frozen options.
Cook with Caution: If consuming sausage cured with any form of nitrites, cooking at lower temperatures can help minimize the risk of forming carcinogenic nitrosamines.
Natural Isn't Always Healthier: The term "natural" in this context only means the preservative is from a natural source, not that it is inherently safer or without risk compared to synthetic additives.

Unpacking the "All Natural" and "No Nitrates Added" Labels

Understanding food labels is a critical part of maintaining a healthy diet. The terms "all natural" and "no nitrates or nitrites added" are widely used but can be misleading when not fully understood. While Jimmy Dean's “All Natural” line is marketed with these claims, it's essential to look past the front-of-package marketing to see what's actually inside.

The All Natural Label

The phrase "all natural" on a product like Jimmy Dean's sausage means it is minimally processed and contains no artificial ingredients. However, this label does not inherently guarantee the absence of all preservatives or processing agents. In the case of sausages, many manufacturers, including Jimmy Dean, rely on natural alternatives to traditional curing agents.

The No Nitrates or Nitrites Added Claim

When a product says "no nitrates or nitrites added," it typically means no synthetic sodium nitrate or sodium nitrite was used. This is a key detail. Instead of synthetic additives, companies often use natural sources of nitrates for curing and preservation, such as celery powder, cherry powder, or other vegetable powders. These natural sources contain high levels of nitrates that, when processed by a starter culture and/or cooked, convert to nitrites, which function similarly to their synthetic counterparts.

The Preservative Role of Celery Powder

Celery powder is a common ingredient in many "no nitrates added" products and is listed among the ingredients for Jimmy Dean's "All Natural" sausages. The nitrates in celery are converted to nitrites by naturally occurring bacteria, which then cure the meat. This process provides the same preservation and pink color as synthetic nitrites, but allows the manufacturer to use the "no nitrates added" label because they didn't add the chemical directly. However, the human body cannot distinguish between nitrites from celery powder and those from a synthetic source.

The Health Context: Natural vs. Artificial Nitrites

It's important to understand the different ways nitrates and nitrites affect health. While the compounds themselves are the same, their effects can vary based on their source and how they are consumed.

Nitrates in vegetables: The vast majority of nitrates consumed in a typical diet come from vegetables like spinach, celery, and beets. These nitrates are often accompanied by beneficial antioxidants, such as Vitamin C, which can inhibit the formation of harmful nitrosamines and offer protective health benefits.
Nitrates in processed meat: When nitrites in processed meats are heated at high temperatures, particularly during frying, they can react with amino acids in the meat to form N-nitroso compounds, also known as nitrosamines. These compounds are potential carcinogens and have been linked to an increased risk of certain cancers, particularly colorectal cancer. This risk is less associated with nitrates in vegetables, which are typically not cooked at high temperatures in the same manner, and are rich in antioxidants.

Comparison of Sausage Types

To help you make an informed choice, here's a table comparing different types of sausage based on their preservative content.


Feature	Traditional Cured Sausage	"No Nitrates Added" Sausage	Truly Nitrate-Free Sausage
Preservatives	Synthetic sodium/potassium nitrate/nitrite added directly.	Natural sources of nitrate used (e.g., celery powder).	No nitrates or nitrites used for curing or preservation.
Example	Many conventional hot dogs, bacon, and salami.	Jimmy Dean "All Natural" products, Applegate, Wellshire.	Fresh, uncooked sausage from local butchers or select brands frozen for preservation.
Labeling	Contains sodium nitrite or potassium nitrate.	"No nitrates or nitrites added*" (with an asterisk referencing celery powder).	May be labeled as "uncured" or sold frozen with no preservative claims.
Color & Flavor	Distinctly pink and cured flavor due to preservatives.	Retains cured flavor and pink color from naturally-sourced nitrites.	Lacks the characteristic pink color; may have a different, fresher flavor profile.
Shelf Life	Extended shelf life due to synthetic additives.	Extended shelf life through the use of natural preservatives.	Shortest shelf life, often sold frozen.

How to Choose the Right Sausage for Your Diet

For those seeking to limit their intake of nitrites, here are some actionable tips for your next shopping trip.

Tip 1: Read the ingredient label thoroughly. Don't be fooled by front-of-package claims. Look for celery powder, celery juice, or "natural flavors" in the ingredients list, as these are often code for natural nitrates.

Tip 2: Prioritize truly nitrate-free options. If you want to avoid all nitrates, look for fresh sausage without any curing agents. These products are often sold frozen and list only meat and spices in the ingredients.

Tip 3: Consider brands known for transparency. Brands like Jones Dairy Farm are explicit about using no antibiotics and no added nitrates or fillers, freezing their products to maintain freshness. Other options like Applegate are also known for clear labeling.

Tip 4: Cook consciously. If you consume processed meats with nitrites (natural or synthetic), cook them at lower temperatures for longer periods to minimize the formation of nitrosamines.

Conclusion: The Final Verdict on Jimmy Dean All Natural Sausage

In conclusion, while Jimmy Dean's "All Natural" sausage is free of synthetic nitrates and nitrites, it is not truly nitrate-free. The company uses celery powder as a natural curing agent, which contains naturally occurring nitrates that convert to nitrites. These nitrites act as preservatives and can pose similar health concerns to synthetic ones when cooked at high heat. For those committed to a strict nitrate-free diet, it is essential to seek out truly fresh sausage products that contain no curing agents whatsoever. Always check the ingredients list, not just the marketing claims, to make the best choice for your nutritional goals. For more information on the impact of processed meats on health, see research from the National Institutes of Health.

Key takeaways: Jimmy Dean's "All Natural" sausage uses natural nitrates from celery powder, not synthetic ones. The presence of nitrates, regardless of their source, means the sausage is not completely nitrate-free. When cooked at high temperatures, these nitrates can form potential carcinogens called nitrosamines. Antioxidant-rich vegetables are a healthy source of nitrates, but this does not apply to processed meats cured with natural nitrates. Always read the ingredient list to confirm the presence of celery powder or other natural nitrate sources.

Frequently Asked Questions

While Jimmy Dean's "All Natural" sausages do not contain synthetic nitrates, they use celery powder, which is a natural source of nitrates, for curing. The label states, "No nitrates or nitrites added," but an asterisk usually clarifies that this is "except for those naturally occurring in ingredients like celery powder".

The main difference is the source. Added nitrates are synthetic chemicals, whereas naturally occurring nitrates come from vegetables like celery powder. However, your body cannot distinguish between these sources. The key health difference comes from the food matrix—the nitrates in whole vegetables are balanced by antioxidants, unlike in processed meat.

To find a truly nitrate-free sausage, you should look for fresh or frozen products that do not list any curing agents, such as celery powder or other vegetable powders, in their ingredient list. Checking the back label for a simple ingredient list (pork, spices, etc.) is the most reliable method.

When processed meats containing nitrites (from any source) are cooked at high heat, the nitrites can react with amino acids to form nitrosamines, which are potential carcinogens. This process is particularly relevant for meats cooked at high temperatures, such as frying sausage.

The nitrates from celery powder are chemically identical to synthetic ones once processed. The primary concern is their presence in processed meat where they can lead to nitrosamine formation under high heat, not their natural origin.

No, Jimmy Dean sells a variety of sausages. Only specific products in their line are labeled as "All Natural," which typically means minimally processed with no artificial ingredients and no added synthetic nitrates.

Yes, cooking processed meats at high temperatures increases the likelihood of nitrites reacting with amino acids to form potentially harmful nitrosamines. Cooking at lower temperatures for longer may help mitigate this risk.