Nitrate and nitrite content in hot dogs and assessment of health risks to Polish consumers

The presence of nitrogen-based food additives in meat products has received considerable attention in recent years because they are used for food preservation and aesthetic purposes. In processed meat products, nitrites and nitrates are the most conventionally applied preservatives, but they may present serious health risks to humans if consumed in excess. In this study, nitrite and nitrate contents were analyzed using IC separation method in hot dogs sold in Poland. Obtained nitrite content ranged from 8.676 to 188.8 mg kg^-1, with mean value of 60.30 mg kg^-1, while nitrate content ranged from 7.035 to 160.8 mg kg^-1, with mean value of 72.63 mg kg^-1. To assess the health risk, estimated daily intake (EDI) values were calculated, based on average consumption of one hot dog per day, one hot dog per week and one hot dog per month, and compared with Acceptable Daily Intake values set by the European Union. For ≥ 13-year-old people, who consume on average one hot dog per day, value for nitrite was exceeded in only one sample, but it was exceeded in 19 samples for 1-2-year-old girls, showing that regular consumption of one hot dog per day could pose health risk to young children.