Even if I believed nitrites to be safe, which I don't, there'd still be the factory farmed, mass produced, animal cruel, processed meats issue. I stopped eating processed meats decades ago. I don't think I could make myself enjoy a Nathan's frank (or a Big Mac) with all I've learned about how they're produced. I did when I was a kid but I was quite uninformed then.
My Dad died of cancer at age 58, and he was a big processed meat eater : hot dogs, liverwurst, etc.) and my Ma died of cancer also, so I don't think it would be in my best interest to push my luck by eating what many people say are known carcinogens.
As a rule, I eat only whole foods, whole meats, and naturally raised w/o hormones, """""".