Natural Meat Curing Blends & Custom Seasoning

As more consumers demand clean label and naturally cured meats, the industry is shifting toward transparency and ingredient simplicity. Many products labeled “uncured” still use celery juice powder, a concentrated source of nitrites. Consumers are now realizing that “natural nitrites” are still nitrites.

What “Uncured” Really Means 

While the word uncured suggests these meats haven’t gone through a curing process, that’s not entirely true. The nitrites used to preserve flavor, color, and freshness are just coming from a “natural” source instead of a synthetic one. Celery juice powder and similar vegetable powders are rich in naturally occurring nitrates, which are converted into nitrites during processing. These nitrites perform the same role as traditional curing agents - they help prevent spoilage, maintain that familiar pink color, and enhance flavor.

The Shift Toward Natural Curing Solutions

The growing interest in transparency and clean labels has encouraged manufacturers to look for natural curing alternatives. But even when derived from plants, nitrites are still part of the process - and that’s something more consumers are beginning to recognize as they learn the difference between “natural” and “synthetic” ingredients.

“Synthetic nitrite is frequently utilized for curing due to its low expenses and easier applications to meat. However, it is linked to the production of nitrosamines, which has raised several health concerns among consumers regarding its usage in meat products.” - National Center for Biotechnology Information

Carolina Ingredients’ Healthy, Natural Meat Cure Blends  

At Carolina Ingredients, our Natural Cure Blends are redefining what “clean label” really means. These blends eliminate the use of chemical nitrites, erythorbate, celery powder, acerola cherry powder, and other additives commonly found in cured meats. Instead, they’re labeled simply as Sea Salt, Dried Vinegar, and Natural Flavors - offering a truly natural, allergen-free solution that supports both food safety and shelf life.

Unlike traditional or vegetable-based curing agents, our Natural Cure Blends are not a concentrated nitrite source. This means manufacturers can remove celery powder entirely while still achieving the flavor, color, and preservation benefits that consumers expect.

Carolina Ingredients takes pride in developing transparent, functional curing systems that provide truth in labeling without sacrificing performance. Our Natural Cure Blends are ideal for use in ham, bacon, salami, hot dogs, pepperoni, and custom meat seasoning applications - giving brands a cleaner, more honest way to cure meats

Custom Meat Seasoning Blends & Ideation Sessions

As a custom seasoning manufacturer, we specialize in crafting tailor-made spice blends that fit your brand’s exact flavor profile and processing needs. We understand that taste preferences vary widely, so we offer a truly custom approach, allowing our clients to customize their seasoning blends according to their specific needs through our unique ideation sessions. Our in-house R&D team works closely with customers, ensuring that every blend is a perfect reflection of their company’s preferences, guaranteeing the ultimate culinary experience with every use.

Contact our Sales Representatives today to schedule an Ideation Session!