Adipose tissue has been implicated as the primary site of nitrosopyriolidine (NPYR) production in fried bacon. In a study on the precursors of NPYR, pork belly adipose tissue was extracted with CHCI3/MeOH and yielded an organic layer, an aqueous polar fraction, and a tissue residue. Fractions were heated with nitrite, and the polar fraction accounted for most of the nitrosamines in intact adipose tissue. Fractionation of the polar fraction yielded an eluate that was collected in seven aliquots. All aliquots formed N‐nitro‐sodimethylamine when heated with nitrite, but the bulk of NPYR was formed from an eluate corresponding to the first of three UV absorbent bands at 254 nm.