
Common food preservatives such as nitrites and sorbates may be linked to a slightly higher risk of certain cancers or type 2 diabetes, according to two new studies coming out of an ongoing large-scale research project on the French diet.
The studies, which are based on the health data of more than 100,000 French adults, highlight risks related to specific additives, including nitrites, which are often used to cure ham, bacon and sausages.