DISCUSSION ACTIVITY

A friend has discovered that this firm is adding nitrites and nitrates to bacon to help
preserve it. He also has read that these compounds are precursors to cancer-forming
chemicals that are produced in the body. On the other hand, he realized that certain disease
organisms as those manufacture botulism toxins have been known to grow in bacon that has
not been treated. He asks you whether he should:

a. Protest to his superior knowing that he might be get fired.

b. Leak the news to the press.
c. Remain in silence because the risk of dying from cancer is less than the absolute
certain of dying from botulism.

Note: the addition of nitrite to bacon is approved by the FDA (Food and Drugs
Administration). Remember that heating nitrites and nitrates results in a reaction with the
amines in the proteins to form nitrosamine, which is a carcinogenic compound.

 You have to prepare a statement or essay defending (a), (b) or (c) position.
REPLY:

Taking into account the previous approach, I would think that the worker should choose
the position (a. Protest his superior knowing that he could be fired), since ethics and values
prevail before their own and collective interests. In addition, all human beings must be
sensitive and aware of the damage that would be caused if the processes in the
organizations that work with food were not carried out the chain of safety, these could be
fateful for people.

Although the addition of nitrite to bacon is approved by the FDA, the integrity and life
of consumers is more important, therefore, the worker can respectfully suggest the Manager
or the person in charge of the food process that Studies are conducted on the use of nitrites
and nitrates in bacon, as recent studies have shown that the use of these additives can cause
diseases such as cancer. In addition, other alternatives could be proposed to preserve bacon
so that they are not harmful to human health.

According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), “There is

limited evidence that suggests that nitrite can cause some types of gastrointestinal cancer in
humans and in mice. Cancer can be caused by reactions between nitrite and other chemicals
forming compounds that produce cancer. In addition, the ingestion of nitrate and nitrite
under conditions that result in endogenous nitrosation is probably carcinogenic in humans
(Group 2A)”.

IARC indicated that: “(1) the cycle of endogenous nitrogen in humans includes the
conversion of nitrate to nitrite; (2) nitrosants derived from nitrite produced in the stomach
acid environment may react with nitrosants such as amines and secondary amides to
generate N-nitrous compounds; (3) nitrosation conditions increase with the additional
ingestion of nitrate and nitrite or compounds that can be nitrosated.” (2015)

Finally, this problem could affect the organization in an economic way since demands
could be filed by customers due to the use of nitrate and nitrite in the bacon.
 BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES

Agencia para sustancias toxicas y el registro de enfermedades. (10 de septiembre de 2015).

Obtenido de https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/es/phs/es_phs204.pdf