Nitrite-free with fruit and spice
12:29, 15 Jun 2026Updated 15:23, 15 Jun 2026
Mike McAuliffe, Chief Executive Officer, Truly Irish with the new Rashers Made Without Nitrites on the farm in Fahaduff, Kerry(Image: Pic: Pauline Dennigan)
It’s a healthier and more natural alternative to the beloved breakfast staple – and it’s made with 100% Irish pork.
Truly Irish, a food company owned by 85 farming families, has teamed up with family-run Cork producers, Irish Bacon Slicers, to create a new range of rashers ‘Made Without Nitrites’.
In a huge deal for this second-generation business from Ballincollig, the product is now available nationwide through Tesco, Dunnes Stores, SuperValu, Centra, Londis and Mace stores.
The rashers are made with Irish Pork by Irish farmers to reduce the amount of Nitrites in our diet and replace them with natural fruit and spice extracts “without compromising on taste”.
Nitrites have long been used in meat products to enhance colour and extend shelf life, but awareness is growing around the potential health risks associated with their use. In recent years, health and food science experts have increasingly called for a move away from nitrites in food production.
Kerry native and CEO of Truly Irish, Mike McAuliffe, said: “ As farmers, we care deeply about the food we produce and the standards we uphold. With this new rasher, we wanted to offer something more natural, without asking people to compromise on taste. It’s fantastic to see the product now available in Tesco stores nationwide – it’s a big step forward for us.”
Mike McAuliffe, Chief Executive Officer, Truly Irish and Sharon Reale, Commercial Director on the farm in Fahaduff, Kerry.(Image: Pic: Pauline Dennigan)
The rashers are sliced and packaged at the company’s state-of-the-art facility in Ballincollig and are now available nationwide through Tesco, Dunnes Stores, SuperValu, Centra, Londis and Mace stores.
Sharon Reale, Commercial Director at Truly Irish, added: “Innovation has always been central to the Truly Irish story. Consumers are increasingly looking for clean labelling – food products made simple with recognisable ingredients. Our new ‘Made Without Nitrites’ rashers are a direct response to that demand. The range is Ireland’s first Bord Bia-certified rashers made without nitrates, a significant achievement for our team and our production partners.
Irish Bacon Slicers is a second-generation family business with more than 50 years of experience in pork and bacon production. Operating from Ballincollig, the company supplies retail and foodservice customers throughout Ireland.