Why Atkins Diet does not allow?

Here is a quick blurb I found on the www.atkinscenter.com website. I personally can never find nitrate-free bacon - so I make do with bacon that doesn't have added sugar.

http://atkinscenter.com/helpatkins/...food/index.html

What are nitrates and why are they bad for you? And where can I find meat/bacon/cold cuts without nitrates?
Nitrates and nitrites are added to meats (such as bacon and cured ham) and smoked fish to produce an appealing color and inhibit growth of germs and poisons. While these chemical compounds are not themselves carcinogens, they can yield byproducts such as nitrosamines, which have been implicated in higher rates of cancer--particularly colon and gastric cancer--in animals. For this reason, we feel it is prudent to limit your intake of foods containing nitrates or nitrites. You can find nitrate-free products in health food stores and some supermarkets. Fortunately, an increasing number of nitrate-free meat products are available in stores or by mail-order including Coleman Beef (800-442-8666). Your local butcher or health food store may also carry nitrate-free products or stock them for you upon request.

I have found nitrate-free bacon at my health food store, but the cost is too prohibitive...$6.00 for less than half a pound. I don't eat bacon a lot, so I just make do with the store bought kind and buy fresh sausages with no sugars, fillers or nitrates added.