5. Conclusions
Curing of meat is a process known since ancient times
with the intension to prolong the shelf life of meat. The curing
agents nitrite and nitrate react due to easily varying oxidation
status of nitrogen into many derivatives with meat
ingredients.
The curing agents give the products an esteemed and
stable red colour, nitrite acts as an antioxidants, nitrite prevents
or retards mircobial growth and finally the curing
agents give a pleasant flavour. The positive effects are overwhelming
against the small possibility of the formation of
nitrosamines. The intake of curing agents by meat products
is small in comparison with other foods.