The European Union has announced that it is relaxing legislation related to thepresence of nitrates in foodstuffs, as covered by regulation 1258/2011, according to a report by www.teatronaturale.com.
The initial legislation was issued to bring down the level of nitrates due to their habit of becoming nitrites and reacting with amines and amides to produce carcinogenic N-nitrose compounds.
Naturally occurring nitrates are exacerbated by fertilisers and growing techniques, most prominently in relation to leafy green vegetables such as spinach and lettuce.
Theproblem has been achieving conformity across the EU to the stated amounts, given the size of the European bloc.
A investigation was commenced in 2008 toconsider lowering the legal levels and has now found that there should be no increased risk associated with slightly increased amounts and no lowering of goodness in the produce either.
