Is Irish Ham Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Dunnes Stores
Irish Ham is one of the meat product products analyzed by Zerotox for Dunnes Stores. The product scores 60/100 in Zerotox, meaning it looks generally acceptable but still includes some ingredients worth reviewing.
The sections below explain why ingredients like Pentasodium Triphosphate, Sodium Nitrite affect the overall evaluation.
60 / 100
Why score is 60
The composition of this Irish ham includes sodium nitrite as a preservative and sodium ascorbate as an antioxidant. These synthetic additives raise quality concerns, impacting the overall rating.
Main concern
Sodium nitrite is a synthetic preservative that raises safety concerns due to potential health risks.
Why it matters: This ingredient is flagged in our analysis based on regulatory and scientific sources. Check the Ingredients section for details and see Data sources for methodology.
Regulation status: Ingredient safety is assessed from EU/EPA/CIR and similar databases; formulations may vary. Always read the product label.
Pros
- High pork content (99%) indicates a meat-rich product, contributing positively to the rating.
- Sea salt is a natural ingredient used for flavor enhancement, supporting the overall quality.
Concerns
- Sodium nitrite is a synthetic preservative that raises safety concerns due to potential health risks.
- Sodium ascorbate, while an antioxidant, is a synthetic additive that may detract from the product's natural quality.
Who should avoid this product?
This product may be less suitable for:
- people avoiding animal-derived ingredients
Ingredients breakdown
Instead of a flat list, this section explains each ingredient in the context of this meat product.
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Is Pork safe in this meat product?
Good
Pork is used here as base. Pork is the primary ingredient, providing the main source of protein and flavor in this ham. Its high percentage indicates quality.
Role in formula: base
Original: Irish Pork (99%)
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Is Sea Salt safe in this meat product?
Good
Sea Salt is used here as flavor. Sea salt is used for seasoning and preservation, contributing to the flavor profile without raising significant safety concerns.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: Sea Salt
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Is Sugar safe in this meat product?
Medium
Sugar is used here as flavor. Sugar is added for flavor balance, but its presence in processed meats can raise concerns about excessive sweetness.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: Sugar
-
Is Pentasodium Triphosphate safe in this meat product?
Bad
Pentasodium Triphosphate is used here as stabilizer. Pentasodium triphosphate is a synthetic stabilizer that can raise concerns about processed ingredients and their effects on health.
Role in formula: stabilizer
Original: Stabiliser: Pentasodium Triphosphate
Read the full ingredient profile for Pentasodium Triphosphate
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Is Sodium Ascorbate safe in this meat product?
Medium
Sodium Ascorbate is used here as antioxidant. Sodium ascorbate is a synthetic antioxidant used to prevent spoilage, but its synthetic nature raises quality concerns.
Role in formula: antioxidant
Original: Antioxidant: Sodium Ascorbate
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Is Sodium Nitrite safe in this meat product?
Bad
Sodium Nitrite is used here as preservative. Sodium nitrite is a synthetic preservative that helps maintain color and prevent spoilage, but it is associated with health risks.
Role in formula: preservative
Original: Preservative: Sodium Nitrite
How we score
Our safety scores and ingredient breakdowns are based on regulatory and scientific sources. See Data sources & methodology and How Zerotox works for full details.
Product info
Product ID: 3965607
More from this brand: Dunnes Stores products in Zerotox
Similar products: meat_product in Zerotox database
Report / complain: You may report errors or complain about this product or its formulation to hello [at] zeroto.app . Published for transparency.