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What are nitrite and nitrate?

itrite is a salt used to preserve meat, fish, and poultry. It is also a chemical substance in the human body, formed through normal physiological processes and the digestion of foods containing nitrite or nitrate. The latter, a salt of nitric acid, is an essential plant nutrient taken up by plants from soil as their principal nitrogen source. Therefore, nitrate is a natural component of all fruits, vegetables, and cereals.