Endogenous levels of nitrites and nitrates in wide consumption foodstuffs: Results of five years of official controls and monitoring

The massive introduction of nitrogen fertilisers, necessary to maximise the global food production, has brought about an increase of the residual amounts of nitrites and nitrates in the products. Notoriously, these compounds may exercise toxic effects.In this work the results obtained from 5 years of official controls and monitoring focused on tracing quantifiable amounts of nitrites and nitrates in 1785 samples of meat, dairy, fish products and leafy vegetables are reported.A widespread presence of nitrates at low concentrations in foodstuffs was verified. High concentrations of nitrates were registered in some leafy vegetables and mussels samples, while high nitrites concentrations were registered in some spinach samples.The results confirmed the necessity to develop most controls and suggest the introduction of new legal limits related to some combinations contaminant/matrix. Such new limits may fill legislative gaps that may cause wrong interpretations of the results obtained during official controls.

• 1785 samples of meat, dairy, fish products and leafy vegetables were analysed.
• A widespread presence of nitrates at low concentrations in foodstuffs was verified.
• High concentrations of nitrates were registered in leafy vegetables and mussels.
• High nitrites concentrations were registered in some spinach samples.
• The introduction of new legal limits is suggested.