| Reading Between The Labels |
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| Lunchbox Meats |
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| What is processed meat? | Processed meat is defined as “meat - usually red meat - that has been preserved by smoking, curing, salting or adding other chemical preservatives.” It includes ham and popular sandwich fillings such as salami, corned beef and pepperoni.
In November 2007, the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) published an expert report. |
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| The report was compiled by an Expert Panel which reviewed all available evidence on diet, physical activity and weight management in relation to cancer risk. As a result, the WCRF produced 10 Recommendations for Cancer Prevention. If we all followed these recommendations, experts estimate that about a third of cancers could be prevented. |
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| One of the WCRF recommendations was: "Avoid processed meats". |
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Why did they recommend that we avoid processed meats?
Processed meat increases the risk of developing bowel cancer - one of the most preventable, but also one of the most common cancers in Ireland. Processing can produce several cancer-causing substances, including N-nitroso compounds, which are the product of nitrates - a common preservative in processed meat.
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What should we watch out for on processed meat packet labels?
Watch out for additives. The two main real additives to avoid are the preservatives sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite - these are added to prevent the growth of toxic micro-organisms in the meat which can kill. But with this new evidence from the WCRF, we now need to develop new and healthier ways of preserving processed meats.
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Sodium Nitrite (E251)
Sodium nitrite is not naturally occurring; it is derived from sodium nitrate by chemical or bacterial action. It is used as a food preservative, mainly to inhibit the growth of clostridium botulinum, the bacterium responsible for botulism. It is also used as a curing salt, imparting a red colour to meat.
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Sodium Nitrate (E251)
Sodium nitrate is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used in food as a preservative, a curing salt and a colour fixative. Nitrates are capable of being converted to nitrites either when food spoils or by bacteria in the stomach. Nitrites can cause deoxygenation of the blood or form minute amounts of nitrosoamines which are hazardous poisons and potentially carcinogenic.
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| Per 50g | Calories | Protein
(g) | Fat (g) | Salt
(g) | Additives | Ballyfree deli roast
turkey breast | 51 | 10.5 | 0.5 | 0.6 | Stabilisers:
Sodium triphosphate,
sodium polyphosphate E450
| Shaws crumbed
ham | 51 | 9.7 | 1.1 | 1.1 | Emulsifiers–sodium phosphate
Antioxidant–ascorbic acid (Vit C)
Preservatives–sodium nitrate & sodium nitrate
| | Denny luncheon roll | 79 | 8.0 | 4.1 | 0.9 | Emulsifiers–sodium diphosphate, sodium triphosphate, carrageenan (seaweed)
Colour-caramine
Flavouring-unknown
Preservative–sodium nitrate
| Tom & Jerry turkey & pork
sausage (cured & cooked) | 95 | 6.1 | 6.3 | 0.9 | Potassium Chloride
Stabiliser–disodium diphosphate
Antioxidant–sodium ascorbate
Preservative–sodium nitrite
| Sol Salami (dried cured
pork sausage) | 241 | 7.3 | 22 | Unknown | Emulsifiers-diphosphates, triphosphates, polyphosphates
Colour–Cochineal extract
Antioxidant-sodium esythorbate
Preservative–sodium nitrate & sodium nitrite
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Verdict
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 | Try to avoid processed meat with preservatives and added salt in the lunchbox everyday. High salt meats are a major problem when you consider that children aged 5-10 only need 4g of salt per day and in a couple of slices of some hams you can get one third of this. Also some contain added fat and nasty additives. |
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| Better and more healthy options would be to grill some extra chicken breasts for sandwich slices the night before when you’re preparing the evening meal or buy the deli premium meats like sliced turkey on the bone which are without additives. |
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| Failing that use other protein sources like hummus (made from chickpeas) as dips, Cheese (protein and calcium), bean salads, lentil soups in flask. |
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| Some supermarkets and manufacturers are just using sugar and more natural additives now in their sliced meats. Choose these for children who have asthma. |
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