A bill to prohibit the Secretary of HEW from prohibiting the use of nitrites as food preservatives as the basis of any carcinogenic effect nitrates may be represented to have until a satisfactory substitute is commercially available.

Prohibits the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare from taking any action under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act or any other law to prohibit the sale, distribution, or use of nitrites as a food preservative solely on the basis on any carcinogenic effect in humans that nitrites may be represented to have, unless validated evidence is made available to the Secretary which proves beyond a reasonable doubt that nitrites as a food preservative have a significant carcinogenic effect on humans.

States that such prohibition shall not apply if the Secretary determines, and publishes in the Federal Register, that a food preservative is commercially available: (1) which may be used in the place of nitrites; (2) which is effective in the protection of public health from botulism and other forms of food poisoning; and (3) the use of which is economically feasible for meat processors and the consumer.

Requires the Secretary to conduct or support (by grant or contract) research and development activities for a food preservative alternative to nitrites.