ANDREEA GROZA

Andreea Groza: What do I eat for breakfast? Cold cuts. This is the most common choice for Romanians, as indicated by the National Institute of Statistics. Daily or frequent consumption of Vienna sausages, salami, ham or Bologna sausages involves a confrontational interaction with the bacteria that act as our defenders. They play a crucial role in our immune system.

Let's trace the path of digestion backwards. The bacteria in the intestines are the last to come into contact with all the preservatives in cold cuts. For food safety, processed meat products invariably contain sodium nitrate. This is also called sodium nitrite, nitrate salt, preservative E 250.

What happens when preservatives reach the intestine?

PhD, Prof. Carmen Chifiriuc, Faculty of Biology: "By influencing nitrates and nitrites in food, which are used for preservation, the process generates nitrosamine, and even some bacteria can synthesize them. Nitrosamines are the byproducts that may emerge from the interaction of microorganisms with these substances, and these nitrosamines carry carcinogenic potential".

We also look into the stomach, where Vienna sausages, ham, salami or Bologna sausages first arrive. All preserved using nitrate salt, as indicated on the label. An expert in Biochemistry explains.

PhD, Prof. Stefan Voicu, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology: "Upon entering the stomach, sodium nitrite undergoes a standard reaction with hydrochloric acid. This reaction results in the formation of a compound known as nitrosamine. That is a substantiated carcinogenic compound, with established limits of 50 mg per kilogram of body weight".

PhD, Prof. Carmen Chifiriuc, Faculty of Biology: "Eating a sandwich with cold cuts occasionally, without turning it into a dietary routine, allows the body to eliminate these harmful substances before they can cause harm. While we often make various mistakes that require correction, it's essential not to repeat the same mistake in order to avoid unnecessary battles with these cells and bacteria, which coexist with us and work for us, safeguarding the integrity of the immune system".

Making the same mistake means eating cold cuts daily.