Meat & delivery · US label guide
Nitrate-free deli meat: read the fine print.
Understand no-added-nitrate wording, review an Applegate turkey label, and check curing ingredients separately from broader additive results.
Sources reviewed October 5, 2026
Compare the available evidence.
| Brand or provider | Source statement | What to check | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applegate | The linked Organic Oven Roasted Turkey Breast page provides its ingredient statementApplegate: Organic Oven Roasted Turkey Breast ↗ | The listed ingredients include turkey, water, sea salt, potato starch, chicken broth, and rosemary extract. Read the current package and do not apply this recipe to Applegate ham or other deli products. | Read label & find a store |
These are manufacturer or provider statements, not independent testing by CleanFoodScore. Buying links are direct links without configured affiliate tracking. Confirm current price, formula, and availability with the provider.
01 · A closer look
No added does not always mean zero.
USDA explains that certain uncured meat labeling can include an exception for nitrates or nitrites naturally occurring in ingredients such as celery powder. Read the qualifier alongside the headline claim. Do not infer a measured nitrate concentration from an ingredient list.
USDA FSIS: uncured labeling explanation02 · A closer look
Compare the exact deli recipe.
A turkey label does not stand in for ham, salami, or a different turkey flavor. The Applegate listing above is one source to inspect, not a complete ranking of deli brands or a laboratory-verified nitrate-free product.
03 · A closer look
Use the checker within its scope.
The preservative group includes sodium nitrite and sodium nitrate. It does not treat cultured celery powder as an automatic match for those names. Paste the label to check the defined additive list, and inspect curing-related ingredients separately.