Waitrose lowers nitrite levels across own-label fresh bacon and gammon ranges
Waitrose has lowered the levels of nitrites across its entire own-label fresh bacon and gammon ranges in what it describes as a supermarket first.
The retailer said the move has not compromised the products’ taste or quality.
Examples include nitrite being reduced by 60% in Essential Waitrose bacon and gammon, and by 10% in the retailer’s dry cure bacon and gammon in other ranges.
The move was made in response to growing public awareness surrounding the preservatives after a World Health Organisation report recommended limiting them in the diet.
Amy Trobridge, pork buyer at Waitrose & Partners, said: “We know many of our customers love a bacon sandwich or the occasional full English. This change means that they can enjoy great tasting, high welfare bacon with reduced nitrite levels. Our updated range doesn’t come at any additional cost to our customers either.”
Waitrose has seen a 44% surge in bacon sales in the last three months. Data from Kantar has revealed that the number of cooked breakfasts served in UK households has almost doubled during the Covid-19 lockdown with an estimated 20 million eaten during the four weeks to 19 April.
