| Abstract: | Under laboratory conditions simulating normal bacon curing, the conversion to N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) of dimethylamine (DMA) added to pork, was 0.1%. Addition of sodium ascorbate to the brine was shown to suppress NDMA formation from added DMA in this simulated curing system and in experimental curing of pork middles spiked with DMA. Heating, by canning or frying, resulted in the formation of small amounts of NDMA in the lean and considerably higher concentrations in the fried fat. However, the lowest amounts of NDMA were found in the bacon cured in the presence of ascorbate. |
