Common questions

Is Traditional Irish Ham healthy?

Traditional Irish Ham scores 60/100 on Scout's independent analysis of ingredients, additives, and lab results — a fair-to-good score — solid, with tradeoffs. This product is a processed meat with added sodium nitrite, a preservative that can form potentially harmful nitrosamines.

How processed is Traditional Irish Ham?

Traditional Irish Ham is NOVA Group 3: Processed Foods.

Which ingredients drive Traditional Irish Ham's score?

In Scout's ingredient-by-ingredient analysis, Leg Meat counts in its favor; Sodium Nitrite is flagged as an ingredient of concern. The full breakdown, with why each one matters, is in the Key ingredients section on this page.

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Traditional Irish Ham

Name: Traditional Irish Ham
Brand: Brannan’s

Brannan’s

Fair

Analysis updated August 2026 · How Scout scores

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At a glance

Beneficial ingredients 1

Harmful ingredients 1

Owned by Brannan Companies

Category Meat and Seafood

Summary

This product is a processed meat with added sodium nitrite, a preservative that can form potentially harmful nitrosamines. While it provides a good protein content, the presence of sodium nitrite and the processing level limit its healthiness. The product's processing level and use of additives prevent it from scoring higher.

Key ingredients 4

Leg Meat

Good

Quality animal protein source providing essential amino acids.

Water

Neutral

Used for moisture and texture in processed meats.

See more about Water →

Tapioca Starch

Neutral

A natural thickener used to bind moisture and improve texture.

See more about Tapioca Starch →

Sodium Nitrite

Bad

A curing agent and preservative used in processed meats, associated with health concerns when consumed in excess.

See more about Sodium Nitrite →

Processing

Group 3 · Processed

Processed Foods

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