(a) Substances that conceal damage or inferiority or make products appear better or of greater value. No substance may be used in or on any meat if it conceals damage or inferiority or makes the product appear to be better or of greater value than it is. Therefore:

(1) Paprika or oleoresin paprika may not be used in or on fresh meat, such as steaks, or comminuted fresh meat, such as chopped and formed steaks or patties; or in any other meat consisting of fresh meat (with or without seasoning).

(2) Paprika or oleoresin paprika may be used in or on chorizo sausage and other meat in which paprika or oleoresin paprika is permitted as an ingredient in a standard of identity or composition in part 319 of this subchapter.

(3) Sorbic acid, calcium sorbate, sodium sorbate, and other salts of sorbic acid shall not be used in cooked sausages or any other meat; sulfurous acid and salts of sulfurous acid shall not be used in or on any meat; and niacin or nicotinamide shall not be used in or on fresh meat product; except that potassium sorbate, propylparaben (propyl p-hydroxybenzoate), and calcium propionate, may be used in or on any product, only as provided in 9 CFR Chapter III.

(b) Nitrates. Nitrates shall not be used in curing bacon.

[64 FR 72175, Dec. 23, 1999, as amended at 78 FR 14640, Mar. 7, 2013]