The French parliament has passed a bill to reduce the use of nitrites in cured meats, with a health risk review to be conducted by the National Health Agency Anses by mid-2022. The bill, proposed by a member of the Modem party in President Emmanuel Macron’s coalition, does not call for a total ban but sets a timetable for reduction, leaving the implementation to the new government post-April presidential election. The meat industry, which currently uses less nitrite than EU rules, supports the decision but highlights the challenges for smaller companies in switching to nitrite-free practices due to potential shelf life and bacterial infection risks.