I'm a meat processor and would like to make some "nitrite free"
versions of my smoked/cured meat products. Is it possible to get that
characteristic pink color associated with sodium nitrite by using a
type of food dye for the nitrite-free products? Of course it would be
ideal if the food dye was organic, since the whole point is to stay
away from chemicals. Does such a food dye exist? Otherwise, the
nitrite-free products have an unattractive gray/brown color.

wrote:
> I'm a meat processor and would like to make some "nitrite free"
> versions of my smoked/cured meat products. Is it possible to get that
> characteristic pink color associated with sodium nitrite by using a
> type of food dye for the nitrite-free products? Of course it would be
> ideal if the food dye was organic, since the whole point is to stay
> away from chemicals. Does such a food dye exist? Otherwise, the
> nitrite-free products have an unattractive gray/brown color.

My husband worked with cured meats for over 10 years. He says that food
dye will not work because the meat will still be brown/gray when cooked
but you can try celery juice it has a natural nitrite in it. :-)
Connie TC