Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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Bought some marked-down pork shoulder a while ago and took it out of the freezer tonight. I look at the label...says it contains up to 12% water, salt, and sodium phosphates...something about how it makes the meat moist and tender. Somehow I missed this when I was in the store.

Now I'm allergic to gluten and soy, so I have more than just an objection on principle to weird chemicals that have no business being in my meat. A quick search says that the FDA deems it "safe." Why am I still worried?

I've got the stuff in the crockpot with a bay leaf, cinnamon stick, salt, some chardonnay, and 6 or 7 dried chile peppers and I must say it's beginning to smell quite good, phosphates and all. Going off to play soccer and it'll be ready for me when I get home, if I dare.

Should I eat this pork or toss it?

flag	asked Jan 25 2011 at 23:55 wjones3044 10k●19●56

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I too have inadvertently bought such meat. Don't toss it, a pig died so you could have this meat. It's highly unlikely that a one-time indulgence will harm you. I now scrutinize labels and avoid purchasing such "tainted" meat, thereby, in my own small way, reducing demand for such product. – RickW Jan 26 2011 at 0:06

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I really wouldn't sweat it. Ingesting large amounts of it (as a colonoscopy prep laxative) can lead to renal failure in rare cases, but the amount in your crockpot shouldn't be cause for concern. Just read labels more carefully from now on. Progress, not perfection! – Dave S. Jan 26 2011 at 0:27

Ben · Answer 1 · 2012-10-11 04:03:56Z UTC

A large portion of the pork in the world today is "enhanced" with things like Sodium Chloride and Sodium Phosphate. As much as you might call this chemical water, what this really does is help to hold the water in the meat. Otherwise you'd end up with dry pork.

This comes more from the issue that pork has been bred to be leaner and leaner over time, and its the lack of the fat in the muscle that results in a drier product. Hence, they add water holding agents back into the meat.

If you want pork that is not enhanced, look carefully at the package, and if you really want good tasting quality pork that is not enhanced get into some of the heirloom pork options out there. Berkshire based hogs (its a breed) are a good way to get started on delicious pork.

Travis Culp · Answer 2 · 2011-01-26 00:04:18Z UTC

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Personally, I wouldn't eat it, but in the grand scheme of things it probably won't do that much damage.

answered Jan 26 2011 at 0:04

Travis Culp♦
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Let us hope so. – wjones3044 Jan 26 2011 at 3:43

Paola · Answer 3 · 2011-01-26 02:43:46Z UTC

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Is this answer too late?

Toss it if you would toss a piece of meat with added sodium nitrite.

I don't think sodim phosphate contains gluten/soy, but it still has some level of toxicity that may be harmful to a weaker digestive system. On the other hand, I would guess that that 12% is mostly water, if the three ingredients are listed in that order.

Let us know.

answered Jan 26 2011 at 2:43

Paola
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	Nope. Just getting home from soccer. Frankly, all I care about is the allergic response potential at this point. Having purchased the stuff, I'll eat it if I can. And, frankly again, it is smelling quite delicious in spite of itself. – wjones3044 Jan 26 2011 at 3:43
	Really, let us know if you have any bad reaction, it would be useful to many of us. But I'd bet you'll be fine. – Paola Jan 26 2011 at 4:08

Helen · Answer 4 · 2011-01-26 00:24:53Z UTC

I agree...I wouldn't eat it either, but in the long run it won't hurt you if you eat it only occasionally. But personally, it would really irk me to find out that I paid good money for chemical-laden water..."up to 12%" (!)...that they use to disguise an inferior product. That's good money down the drain for chemical water (pun intended), if you ask me. You should do the math and find out just how much of the cost of that pork shoulder was potassium phosphate broth.

Eva · Answer 5 · 2011-01-26 05:03:46Z UTC

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Isn't that the same thing as phosphoric acid? It's put in lots of foods. Seems to me, you would surely have eaten by now already in your life, at least before you went paleo. THis will unlikely be the first exposure.

answered Jan 26 2011 at 5:03

Eva
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I think it's different. Anyway I ate the stuff and I'm still alive. Live and learn... – wjones3044 Jan 26 2011 at 18:22

realist · Answer 6 · 2013-04-20 18:41:23Z UTC

Sodium Chloride a.k.a. salt is essential for lean meat to cook well and taste good. Sodium Phosphates made up of sodium, phosphorus and oxygen which are all essential nutrients for the human body, they are not to be feared, your body knows what do do with them. These elements are found in every cell of the human body.

BTW, "meat marinade" = filtered water solution containing 2% salt and 0.25%-0.75% blended phosphates. A blend of mono and poly types are used as there are multiple reasons to add them to meat to make it more palatable. If filtered water is not used, the metal ions in the water (Ca, Mg, Mn) tie up the phosphates and render them useless in meat processing.

Sodium phosphates in my meat???

6 Answers