UK shoppers drive growth in bacon made without added nitrites
Sales of bacon made without added nitrites are rising in the UK as shoppers scrutinise ingredient labels, although the Food Standards Agency says there is no evidence such products are safer than conventional processed meat. Retailers are expanding their ranges despite continuing concerns about food safety and cancer risks.
UK retailers are expanding their ranges of bacon made without added nitrites as demand grows among shoppers concerned about curing chemicals, although food safety officials say there is no evidence the alternatives are safer. Denhay, a Devon dry-cured bacon producer, introduced two nitrite-free back bacon products in 570 Tesco stores on September 21. The smoked and unsmoked 200g packs are each priced at £4.
Waitrose has doubled the size of its range in the past year. Sales of its nitrite-free products increased by more than 34%, while British roast and honey roast hams launched in May recorded growth of more than 70%. Sales of its unsmoked back bacon rose 22%.
Worldpanel by Numerator data showed that spending on nitrite-free bacon reached £34.8m in the 52 weeks to September 6, 2026, an annual increase of 11.4%. Volumes rose 8% to 2.2m kilograms. Conventional bacon spending fell 9.2%, while its volume declined 4.9%, according to the data supplied.
Waitrose nutritionist Emer Lowry said shoppers were paying closer attention to ingredient lists and that products without added nitrites offered more choice. Denhay managing director Marlene Godwin said the company was responding to retailer and customer demand rather than telling consumers what to eat. Nitrates and nitrites are used to preserve meat, prevent the growth of harmful bacteria and contribute to flavour and colour.
The Food Standards Agency says nitrates and nitrites consumed with protein-rich foods such as meat can be converted into nitrosamines, which are considered harmful. It also says vegetables provide nitrates alongside nutrients that help reduce nitrosamine formation. The World Health Organization’s cancer agency classifies processed meat as a Group 1 carcinogen, but the supplied material said the link has not been directly attributed to nitrites.
The FSA says no single component has been identified as the cause and that there is no definitive evidence nitrites directly cause cancer. The agency also warns that removing the chemicals can create food-safety challenges because other preservation methods are required. Nutritionist Gabriela Peacock said nitrite-free products could appeal to shoppers, but cautioned that higher prices and “nitrate-free” labels did not automatically make them healthier.
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