Effect of packages on nitrates and nitrites contents in sauerkrauts

Nitrites are thought to be ten times more toxic to humans and animals than nitrates. Nitrites are able to form nitrosamines, stable, strongly toxic, mutagenic, teratogenic and carcinogenic compounds. The presented paper investigates the effect of packaging types and length of chilled storage on changes in nitrates and nitrites contents in white and red cabbage sauerkraut. Two types of bags were used for packing the product: one made from low density polyethylene (PE-LD) and the other from the metalized polyethylene terephthalate (PET met/PE). Vegetables were analysed before and after packaging and after 1, 2, 3, and 4 months of chilled storage in two types of packaging. It has been observed in this work that nitrate contents in cold-stored sauerkrauts fluctuated in subsequent four months and the values found were generally significant. A type of packaging did not have a significant effect on the levels of nitrites in the sauerkrauts analyzed.