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Hi Donald,

Nitrates are a suspect carcinogen. I wish I could find a recent article I read that showed you need to consumer a LOT in order for your risk to go up.

I confess I have three slices of bacon for brekkie every day, and have done for nearly a year. I also have pepperoni and other stuff like that on occasion but don't go whole hog with it (pardon the pun).

Certainly doesn't seem to have interfered with the weight loss. As to the dangers, I am tackling one health issue at a time. For now, the bacon stays. I used to go out of my way to find nitrate-free stuff, but don't bother any more. (On a side note - the lower sodium bacon sometimes has no sugar.)

To minimize the nitrate issue - you're advised not to scorch the bacon or get it too crispy. I cook mine in the oven to avoid this, and often will give it a rinse with water midway through cooking. This helps a bit, and doesn't affect the taste at all.

Not sure if that helps at all on your "to pepperoni or not to pepperoni" issue.