Bacon

I have decided I want to try curing some bacon, so today I was reading some recipes. Of the four I read three called for saltpeter and this has really been messing with my head. Because, I know that traditionally saltpeter is made by composting urine or guano. This has been turning my stomach even though I also realize that it is now made in some chemical plant and all kinds of chemicals are in my food. I guess that knowing bacon has been around longer than chemical plants is the problem I have not reconciled.