Pet peeve: "Uncured" products that are obviously cured

[jtw]

Over the past couple years, I've noticed more and more products being labeled as "uncured" even though they are obviously cured because that's what that product is. Ham, sausage, bacon, etc.

Generally curing involves adding salts, specifically nitrates and nitrites, but they can escape the labeling requirements because those chemicals were not added directly. Instead, they can add celery which naturally contains those same exact things!

How much longer will we stand for this scam? To me, it's just another buzzword to market to the uninformed "healthy eating" crowd.

[Donw]

Not a scam as that labeling is required by federal regulations. ‘Cured’ can only be used if nitrates or nitrites are used. Otherwise it must be labeled ‘Uncured’ even if celery seeds are used.


§ 319.2 Products and nitrates and nitrites.

Any product, such as frankfurters and corned beef, for which there is a standard in this part and to which nitrate or nitrite is permitted or required to be added, may be prepared without nitrate or nitrite and labeled with such standard name when immediately preceded with the term “Uncured” in the same size and style of lettering as the rest of such standard name: Provided, That the product is found by the Administrator to be similar in size, flavor, consistency, and general appearance to such product as commonly prepared with nitrate and nitrite: And provided further, That labeling for such product complies with the provisions of § 317.17(c) of this subchapter.

[44 FR 48961, Aug. 21, 1979]

[Carolyn]

Déjà vu.
There was a similar post not too long ago, even talked about celery being used and misleading marketing.

Found one of the threads that talked about it.

https://pitmaster.amazingribs.com/forum/the-pit-mastery-program/porknography-ribs-pulled-pork-ham-etc/1410514-uncured-bacon-is-cured

[Michael_in_TX]

One of the top nutrition/food science programs is at my university and you would not believe the uproar at things that are unregulated here vs other countries.

[SheilaAnn]

Michael_in_TX and I bet the other way around, too! Cheese comes to mind!

[realdocBBQ]

It's a bunch of silliness. Between marketing and .gov regulations, this is why everything is so f'ing complicated - AND why it is so difficult and nigh on impossible for a 'little guy' to make it work in the small business world. Absolute stupidity abounds in so many ways.

[Mosca]

On the one hand, sure.

On the other hand, if you’re informed, you can ignore it and just buy what tastes best, or what provides the greatest value to you.

My take is that anyone who is concerned enough to pay attention to the verbiage is also informed enough to parse the differences. But I have a pretty poor record when it comes to judging that stuff, and I’ve learned to ignore most of my takes on things.

[CaptainMike]

And don't get me started on the 'Organic' scam...

[Oak Smoke]

No kidding Mike, H2S is organic.

[hoovarmin]

"There's a sucker born every minute"