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08.03.2018 - Foods

LiquidVegetables:HowMuchNitrateCanBeInSmoothies

Nitrate levels in smoothies for children under 3 years not harmless.
Vegetable-based smoothies are currently all the rage and considered by many consumers to be a quick, healthy snack. Through the processing of vegetables, in addition to important nutrients, nitrate can also enter these popular drinks through nitrate-rich ingredients such as spinach or kale.

The determined nitrate levels in the 34 vegetable-containing smoothies examined are as varied as their composition, ranging from less than 15 mg/l to nearly 500 mg/l. The highest levels, nearly 500 mg/l, were found in a smoothie with 15% arugula. For adults, consumption in usual amounts of 1-2 smoothies per day is harmless - however, caution is advised for children under 3 years, similar to the consumption of nitrate-rich vegetables.

Where does the nitrate come from?
Nitrate (NO3-) is a compound formed by microorganisms from nitrogen-containing components and thus enters the food chain (soil, plants, water, etc.). In agriculture, nitrate-containing fertilizer is used to enhance the growth and yield of plants.

The nitrate levels in plants are not only dependent on the amount of fertilizer but primarily on whether the plant tends to store nitrate or not. Nitrate-rich are especially leafy, cabbage, and root vegetables such as lettuce, kale, chard, spinach, beetroot, and particularly arugula1.

Is too much nitrate dangerous for humans?
Nitrate itself poses only a very low immediate health risk to adults. It becomes dangerous only if, under certain circumstances (e.g., bacterial infections of the gastrointestinal tract) nitrate is partially converted to nitrite in the body. Even in nitrate-containing foods, improper storage, transport, and/or disregard for common hygiene practices can result in the conversion of nitrate to nitrite.

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Source: food-monitor food tests from February 14, 2018; CVUA Karlsruhe