Are Sodium Nitrates Unhealthy? The Scientific Verdict on Preservatives
                                
                                
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                                    4 min read                                
                            
                                According to the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), processed meat—which often contains added sodium nitrates—is classified as "carcinogenic to humans". This classification has sparked significant public concern and confusion regarding the safety of sodium nitrates ($NaNO_3$) and other related compounds.