All ham sandwiches sold by major supermarkets still contain nitrites, The Grocer can reveal, despite recent efforts from retailers to move away from the cancer-linked additive.
While moves are being made to introduce more nitrite-free products in chilled meat, major retailers still have a blind spot when it comes to prepared food and ready meals, analysis of Assosia data shows.
In the year to 5 October, the traditional big four, Waitrose and Ocado all increased the number of lines across prepared foods containing nitrites.
The total number of lines including the chemical across these categories rose in the period from 1,971 to 1,972.
Across core categories ranging from chilled ready meals and cooked meats, to sandwich fillers and food to go, little progress was made.
Nitrites also remained in use across microwave burgers, hot dogs & snacks, fresh pizza, pasta & garlic bread, and pies & savouries.
And while some categories did see a reduction in nitrite use, others worsened, with the biggest increase seen in food to go, which jumped by 18.5% in a year.
The findings were described as “deeply concerning” by a spokesperson for the Coalition Against Nitrites, who added it was “extraordinary that consumers still cannot buy a single ham sandwich from any of Britain’s major supermarkets without nitrites”.
It comes against a backdrop of increasing concern around the use of the additive with a BBC Panorama episode aired on Monday reiterating warnings from food safety expert Professor Chris Elliott that there was evidence nitrite usage caused cancer.
Supermarkets have also extended their nitrite-free ranges over the past few months, with Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose all announcing new or extended product lines. The most recent saw Waitrose unveil the first Made Without Nitrites Gammon Joint and Lardons lines just last week.
“The industry has now proved beyond doubt that bacon and ham can be made successfully without these chemicals,” the Coalition Against Nitrites spokesperson said. “If supermarkets can make nitrite-free bacon and ham, they can make nitrite-free prepared foods too.
“The next step should be to make that the norm, not the exception.”
The Grocer understands that Tesco has reformulated products to remove additives where possible and has restricted the use of 114 additives in its own brand products.
Meanwhile, a Waitrose spokesperson told The Grocer that the retailer was “committed to continuously improving the quality of our products, which we know from research is a priority for our food-loving customers”.
“In line with our broader additive reduction programme, we’ve removed 220 additives from 110 products over the past 20 months, and products which have our updated Good Health logo are not able to contain any additives – which includes nitrites – demonstrating a real step forward in reducing them across our ranges,” the spokesperson added.
Devina Sankhla, food safety policy advisor at the BRC, said: “Food safety is paramount to retailers, and they implement strict policies with their suppliers to ensure all products comply with UK food legislation.
“Additives such as nitrites are controlled, and their use is regularly monitored by the food safety authorities.”
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