Where Is Nitrosamine Found?

Nitrosamines and/or their precursors can be found in diverse consumer products such as processed meats, alcoholic beverages, cosmetics, and cigarette smoke. Nitrosamines can also be formed in the mouth or stomach if the food contains nitrosamine precursors.

Which foods contain nitrosamines?

Foods which have been shown to contain volatile nitrosamines include cured meats, primarily cooked bacon; beer; some cheeses; nonfat dry milk; and sometimes fish. It should be emphasized that not all samples analyzed contain detectable amounts of nitrosamines.

How does nitrosamine cause cancer?

Nitrosamines form a large group of genotoxic chemical carcinogens which occur in the human diet and other environmental media, and can be formed endogenously in the human body. N-Nitroso compounds can induce cancer in experimental animals.