육가공품에 사용되는 아질산염의 사용기준, 대사, 섭취량과 안정성에 대한 조사 연구

During the 1970s, concern arose that cured meats contained high levels of residual nitrite and preformed nitrosamines. Therefore, the search for alternatives and alternative approaches to the use of nitrite have been still continued, however no complete alternative for nitrite has yet been identified. Recently, it was publicized in Korea that nitrite-containing meat products would be detrimental to health, about which consumers have been seriously concerned. Therefore, this study was carried out to inform the consumer of the safety status of nitrite and thereby to lead proper consumption of meat products. For assessing the safety of nitrite, data regarding the regulation for use, metabolism in human body, and dietary intake amounts of nitrite were collected and analyzed. The mean intake level of nitrite for Korean per capita was recently reported to be not more than 1% of AIM set by JECFA. On the contrary, a calculation indicated that the daily nitrite intake per capita from saliva by ingestion of vegetables in Korea would be about 300-fold higher than that from cured meats. In consideration of the low consumption amount of meat products per capita of Korean, that is, at least one fifth, compared to European and American, there is no particular reason to concern about the impairment of health by nitrite intake from meat products for Korean. However, any effort for the reduction of residual nitrite content in cured meats should be given with an idea to minimize the intake of nitrite even from the minor source.