Will people die if they eat sodium nitrite?

With the development of science and technology in modern life, people can discover chemical substances in various foods, including some substances that are harmful to the body and require people's attention. For example, sodium nitrite is a common substance that is widely present in various pickled foods. It is harmful to people's bodies. So, will people die if they eat sodium nitrite? Let's take a look at the explanation below.

Sodium nitrite is a food additive with the following main functions:

First, it plays a role in protecting the color, maintaining the bright color of the food and preventing the color of the food from becoming darker or lighter. Used for marinating meat products.

Secondly, it can inhibit botulinum bacteria and prevent fresh meat from being gradually oxidized into gray-brown metmyoglobin in the air, while keeping the meat products bright red.

The addition of nitrites will cause nitrite residues in meat products to enter the human body and react with amines produced by organic substances such as amino acids and phospholipids in protein under certain environments and conditions to form nitrosamines. Nitrosamines are highly carcinogenic and can cause harm to consumers' health. Adding a small amount of sodium nitrite to food as a preservative and color enhancer can not only prevent spoilage but also make the color of the meat bright. However, sodium nitrite is a potential carcinogen. Excessive or long-term consumption can cause harm to the human body and even cause cancer.

However, as long as the amount of nitrite added to food meets national standards and is not consumed frequently in excess, it is safe and there is no need to worry.