o:8623 Occurrence of nitrates in milk products-review en This review explores the role of nitrates, primarily sodium nitrate and potassium nitrate, in cheese production, particularly for semi-hard and hard cheeses. Nitrates are added as food additives to control microbial growth and prevent defects caused by gas-producing bacteria. The initial spike of nitrate levels during cheese production decreases over time, with trace levels remaining in the final product. Various regulations around the world dictate nitrate levels in cheese, with notable differences between the EU and the US. Nitrates can also originate from natural and environmental sources, influenced by cows’ diets and agricultural practices. Furthermore, nitrates act as antimicrobial agents during cheese ripening, support- ing product quality by inhibiting spoilage bacteria. There are several techniques used to analyse nitrates (NO3-), including spectrophotometers, Raman spectrometry, infrared and per fluorometrically-interferon- irradiated (IR and FTIR) spectroscopy, AAS, fluoropho- tography, chemical luminance, mass spectrometry, MECA, EPR, and NMR, Gas-Liquid Chromatography (GLC) with Electron-Capture Detector (ECD), High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with UV detection. Nitrates, Milk products, Nitrosamines 1552099 10.18485/meattech.2025.66.3.55 2025-12-08T07:58:58.468Z 44 yes 46 Danka Spirić Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Kaćanskog 13, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia Occurrence of nitrates in milk products-review https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6008-7625 Srđan Stefanović Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Kaćanskog 13, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia Occurrence of nitrates in milk products-review person https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8011-5654 Čaba Silađi Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Kaćanskog 13, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia Occurrence of nitrates in milk products-review person https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1933-3849 Radivoj Petronijević Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Kaćanskog 13, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia Occurrence of nitrates in milk products-review person https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3901-3824 Dejana Trbović Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Kaćanskog 13, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia Occurrence of nitrates in milk products-review person https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9357-7789 Nikola Borjan Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Kaćanskog 13, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia Occurrence of nitrates in milk products-review person https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4067-3755 Dunja Videnović Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Kaćanskog 13, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia Occurrence of nitrates in milk products-review person https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2638-247X application/pdf 453882 https://unilib.phaidrabg.rs/o:8623 no yes 16 70 92000002 71A01 Meat technology - Special Issue 66/3 2025 1-576 66 3 332 338 Kaćanskog 13, 11 000 Belgrade Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology 2025-12-01 www.journalmeattechnology.com