What food can eradicate H. pylori in the majority of patients? The salting and pickling of fish produce a novel DNA-mutating chemical called CMBA, which is formed from a reaction of salt, nitrite preservatives, and methionine, an amino acid found concentrated in animal proteins. The nitrites can also interact with other protein components to form N-nitroso compounds, a powerful class of carcinogens found in cigarette smoke. This may explain why processed meats such as bacon, ham, hot dogs, lunch meat, and sausage have been tied to increased stomach cancer risk, but this extends to fresh, unpro...