Consumer advice center warns: These types of grilled meat are poisonous!

Consumer advice center warns: These types of grilled meat are poisonous!

If you want to be on the safe side when grilling, you should be careful at the moment. The Hamburg consumer advice center has issued an urgent warning warning of harmful ingredients in certain types of meat. The focus is particularly on nitrosamines, which are considered to be potentially carcinogenic and genetically damaging. These dangerous chemical compounds are created by the use of nitrite curing salt in cured and heavily processed meat products when they are heated. What does this mean for the barbecue evening?

Particularly alarming: The consumer advice center strongly recommends avoiding certain types of meat when grilling. These include Kasseler, Vienna sausages, Bockwürste, meatloaf, meat loaf, ham and bacon. These foods are potentially dangerous not only when grilled, but also when roasted or deep-fried. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) confirmed in 2023 that diets containing nitrosamines may pose a health risk, especially when consumed in large quantities. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) supports this assessment, but points out existing scientific uncertainties.

Alternatives and recommended preparation

To stay on the safe side, experts recommend using fresh, uncured meat. Steaks, chops or poultry in particular are safe alternatives for carefree grilling pleasure. When it comes to sausages, you should choose products without nitrite curing salt. For anyone who has already purchased risky meat, the following applies: Cook the products well to avoid the formation of nitrosamines.

In addition, it is advisable to pay attention to the preparation methods. Gentle preparation and reducing meat consumption are not only good for your health, but also help to minimize the intake of harmful substances. For further information on this topic, the North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Center also has tips on how to keep the risks when consuming meat products low.

Harmful substances in food

Nitrosamines are not just limited to meat. They can also be found in other foods such as processed fish, beer, cheese and even chocolate. Cured sausages and meat products are often a significant source of nitrosamines because they are cured with the preservative nitrite, which reacts with amino acids in the meat. This chemical reaction is crucial for the formation of harmful substances. Other foods that may contain nitrosamines include vegetables contaminated with nitrates, dairy products and fermented foods. One more reason to have a good hand when shopping and cooking.

Advancing research and improved manufacturing processes have reduced the contamination of cured products with nitrosamines. Some manufacturers even advertise that they do not require nitrite curing salt. So if you value healthy eating, you should read when shopping and decide for yourself what goes on the grill. To find out more about the dangers of nitrosamines, we recommend the verbraucherzentrale.de and vzhh.de. Pay attention to what goes on the grill and stay healthy!