Does Boar’s Head Tavern Ham Contain Nitrates?

Boar’s Head is a popular premium deli meat brand known for quality ingredients and flavorful meats like hams, turkey, roast beef and more. Their Tavern Ham in particular is a customer favorite for its hearty, smoky flavor But when it comes to processed meats, many health-conscious consumers are wary of chemical preservatives like nitrates.

So does Boar’s Head Tavern Ham contain nitrates? Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients and production process to find out.

What are Nitrates?

Nitrates and nitrites are chemical compounds used frequently as preservatives, color fixatives, and flavoring agents in processed meats like ham, bacon, hot dogs and deli meats

While nitrates themselves are relatively harmless, they can be converted into nitrosamines in the body, which are carcinogenic compounds linked to an increased risk of cancer. There are also some concerns around their association with heart disease, diabetes, and other conditions.

For these reasons there has been a growing demand for nitrate-free deli meat options. Many companies now offer “uncured” or “no nitrates added” products though these may still contain nitrates from natural sources like celery powder.

Boar’s Head’s Stance on Nitrates

According to their website, Boar’s Head aims to avoid artificial preservatives like nitrates and nitrites whenever possible in their products. However, they do use natural sources of nitrates like cultured celery powder in some items.

Boar’s Head also states that no synthetic nitrates or nitrites are added to their meats. They offer a line of “All Natural” deli meats with no artificial preservatives at all.

So while Boar’s Head products may contain nitrates from natural sources, they assure customers no artificial or synthetic nitrates are added during processing.

Analyzing the Ingredients in Tavern Ham

To determine if natural nitrates are present, we need to examine the Tavern Ham ingredients label itself:

Ingredients: Ham, Water, Contains 2% or less of Sea Salt, Natural Smoke Flavoring, Cultured Celery Juice, Vinegar, Sugar, Sodium Phosphate.

Right away in the ingredients list we see “Cultured Celery Juice.” This indicates there are naturally occurring nitrates present in the ham coming from the celery.

Sea salt also contains nitrates, though in very small trace amounts.

The other ingredients appear to be preservatives and flavorings like smoke flavoring, vinegar, and sodium phosphate.

The Benefits and Drawbacks of Natural Nitrates

While celery juice does naturally contain nitrates, these plant-based nitrates are generally considered safer and more healthful than artificial sources.

Potential benefits of natural nitrates in Tavern Ham:

• Preserve meat and prevent spoilage
• Provide characteristic pink color
• Enhance the flavor of the ham

Potential drawbacks:

• May still form harmful compounds like nitrosamines in large amounts
• Risks not fully understood and debated
• May contain higher sodium from sea salt

Overall, the nitrate quantity from celery juice is quite small compared to artificial nitrates. But this may still be a concern for those trying to strictly avoid nitrates and nitrites from any source.

Other Boar’s Head Items Free of Nitrates

If you’re looking to completely avoid nitrates, consider these all-natural, nitrate-free options from Boar’s Head:

• All Natural Ovengold Turkey Breast
• All Natural EverRoast Chicken Breast
• All Natural Buffalo Style Chicken Breast
• All Natural Roasted Turkey Breast
• All Natural Sweet Slice Boneless Ham

Boar’s Head also offers many glatt kosher items free of all preservatives, including nitrates. Check with your local deli to see available options.

You can also make your own nitrate-free lunch meat at home by roasting and slicing turkey, chicken, or pork. This allows you to control ingredients completely.

Healthiest Choices When Buying Deli Meat

To limit any risk from processed meats, nutritionists recommend:

• Prioritizing freshness – choose newly sliced meat from the deli counter
• Checking the ingredients list and avoiding chemical preservatives
• Opting for low-sodium varieties
• Consuming in moderation as part of a balanced diet
• Pairing with vitamin C-rich foods which may help counteract nitrosamines

The American Cancer Society suggests limiting consumption of processed meats to no more than 18 oz per week, ideally focusing on those without artificial additives.

The Verdict on Boar’s Head Tavern Ham

Based on the ingredients label, Boar’s Head Tavern Ham does contain nitrates, but only from natural sources like celery juice and sea salt. No synthetic or artificial nitrates are added during manufacturing.

While natural nitrates pose less health risk, those strictly avoiding nitrates may want to choose Boar’s Head’s preservative-free line or make homemade deli meat instead.

In moderation, the nitrates in Tavern Ham are unlikely to be harmful, but as with any processed meat it’s smart to consume as part of an overall healthy and balanced diet.