N-Nitrosopyrrolidine formation in bacon

Evidence is presented that the likely major amine precursors to N-nitrosopyrrolidine in cooked bacon are free proline in the adipose tissue and to a lesser extent, collagenous connective tissues. A model system in which animal lipid is replaced with hydrogenated vegetable oil is described and used in investigating the potential role of prolyl derivatives as precursors to N-nitrosopyrrolidine.