Duped In The Deli Aisle? 'No Nitrates Added' Labels Are Often Misleading

"Packing a turkey sandwich in your kid's lunchbox, or serving up bacon or hot dogs?"

"When shopping for processed meats, many health-conscious consumers look for products with words like 'no nitrates added' or 'uncured' on the packaging. But we may have been misled, experts say."

"A new report finds that deli meats with those labels actually contain similar levels of nitrates as meats that don't carry these labels."

"Part of the explanation lies in federal labeling rules for processed meats. When hot dog or bacon manufacturers use natural curing agents, such as celery powder, in lieu of synthetic sodium nitrite, they can be required to use terms such as 'no nitrates added' and 'uncured.' In other cases, food manufacturers may add these claims voluntarily, perhaps for marketing reasons."

"The 'labels could make people think these meats are healthier,' says Charlotte Vallaeys, senior policy analyst at Consumer Reports.'But our tests show they are not.'"

"Consumer Reports tested 31 deli meat products including roast beef, salami, turkey and ham. The products included both name brands and store brands."