Finnebrogue unveils nitrate-free bacon thanks to huge technological breakthrough
By Kate Ayers
Staff Writer
Farms.com
Naked Bacon is the first product of its kind to not contain cancer-causing nitrites and it will be available in UK supermarkets tomorrow.
This nitrate-free bacon marks huge progress for food safety, according to a release from Finnebrogue, a Northern Irish artisan food manufacturer, on Dec. 28.
Nitrite-cured bacon is as harmful as asbestos and smoking, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated.
Consuming two slices of bacon cured with nitrites every day increases the risk of bowl cancer by 18 per cent, WHO cautioned. And processed meat is notoriously linked to increased incidence of cancer.
Finnebrogue uses natural Mediterranean fruit and spice extracts to cure the bacon without the use of nitrites, professor Chris Elliot, the chair of the Institute for Global Food Security at Queen’s University Belfast, said in the release.
Naked Bacon is the UK’s first bacon to be free of nitrites, preservatives and allergens. The feat is a result of 10 years of research and a £14 million investment (CAD$23.6 million) by Finnebrogue. The company collaborated with a Spanish chemist to develop this preservation and flavouring technique.
“Our Naked Bacon is not only safer than any other bacon on the market, it also tops the charts in blind taste tests. This (product) really is the biggest revolution to the British breakfast for a generation,” Denis Lynn, Finnebrogue chairman, said in the release.
The company also plans to release Naked Ham on Jan. 15.
Photo Credit: https://www.foodbev.com/news/finnebrogue-nitrite-free-bacon/