Let's talk about Bacon and other processed meats...

Yum mm

Ah, bacon. Who can resist bacon? I've even encountered some vegetarians who would indulge in bacon.

While bacon and other processed meats like pepperoni, sausage, canned meats, lunch meat, hot dogs, and chicken nuggets are delicious, they also contain BHT and TBHQ.

What are those, you ask? They are preservatives added to many foods besides processed meats, such as cereal, microwave popcorn, and chewing gum, to name a few.

They both carry many health risks and are banned in other countries, but not here in the United States.

Here are some brands of bacon and other processed meats that do not contain these synthetic chemicals, which can slowly cause health issues or even slowly kill us.

This is a great brand. They make a bunch of different products besides just bacon and sausage. And the most common out of the 3 that I found.

Beeler’s Pure Pork

✔ No nitrates/nitrites ✔ No synthetic preservatives ✔ Family farmed

Wellshire Farms

✔ Sold at Whole Foods ✔ No BHT/TBHQ ✔ No antibiotics or preservatives

I have looked at more common labels like Hormel Black Label, Oscar Mayer, and Smithfield. While some of their brands do not contain BHT or TBHQ, they do contain dextrose, sodium erythorbate, and natural flavors.

Dextrose is synthetically processed refined sugar from GMO wheat or corn.

Sodium Erythorbate Chemical cousin of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) Made from Glucose, often derived from corn (usually GMO in the U.S.)

Natural Flavors are not natural and could include hidden allergens or processed chemicals.

Some brands do make "All Natural" alternatives. But still flip it over and read the label.

Some food for thought here. Pun intended.

While the FDA allows less then 0.02% per 100 g of fat or oils, math example below.

0.02% of 100g = 0.02 ÷ 100 × 100g = 0.02g = 20 milligrams

So, the product can legally contain up to 20 mg of BHT or TBHQ.

These two unhealthy additives are added to so many products. So, it’s very possible to exceed the safe limit, if you eat 2 to 4 processed foods that each contain BHT or TBHQ, especially if they are high-fat foods and you're doing this regularly.

Below is a short list of what are the "potential" health risk for both BHT and TBHQ.

Potential Health Risks for BHT:

Effect	Evidence
Endocrine disruption	Alters hormone levels in animals
Liver & kidney toxicity	High doses linked to organ damage
Carcinogenic potential (cancer causing)	Some animal studies showed tumor development
Hyperactivity/behavioral issues	Linked to behavioral changes in children
Bioaccumulation	Fat-soluble and can build up in body tissues

⚠️ TBHQ — Potential Health Risks

Category	Details
🧬 Cancer Risk	- Caused tumor formation in rats in high doses (stomach/liver) - Possible precancerous changes observed in some studies
🛡 Immune System Effects	- May weaken immune response and alter white blood cell activity - Could affect vaccine effectiveness (EWG 2021 study)
🧠 Behavioral/Neuro Effects	- Linked to hyperactivity, restlessness in animal studies - Concerns similar to artificial food dyes
😷 Allergic Reactions	- Rare reports of rashes, headaches, or asthma-like symptoms - May trigger sensitivity in vulnerable individuals
🏥 Liver & Organ Toxicity	- Caused liver enlargement and cell damage in high-dose animal testing
🧪 Industrial Use Warning	- Also used in cosmetics, varnishes, and fuels — raises concerns about ingestion safety

Small changes are big changes.

Stay smart, be safe and keep learning.

Until next time -NBH