text: It would seem to be the case.  Wikipedia says that Nitrites react to form nitrosamines, which are carcinogens.  Also, the second link I give lists some really gruesome descriptions of what happens when you're exposed to nitrites (search for "Summary of clinical effects").  I don't know how soluble calcium nitrite is, but from what little chemistry I remember, calcium dissociates from compounds fairly easily.  So regardless of whether calcium nitrite would specifically kill you, it would probably dissociate into calcium and nitrite and the nitrite would kill you.\n\nMy mother (a biochemist) always says, "The poison is in the dose."  In other words, anything is poisonous to you if you consume it in large enough quantities-- even water!  (And no, I'm not talking about drowning.)