Sodium Nitrate

E251
Hazard level: High health concern Preservative (E200–299)

What is Sodium Nitrate?

Preservative in cured meats and smoked fish. Converts to nitrite in the body; contributes to the nitrosamine mechanism behind processed meat's IARC Group 1 classification.

Is Sodium Nitrate safe?

Sodium Nitrate is a high health concern. Consider limiting products that contain it.

Score impact: −15 points on the FoodsScan score (FoodsScan scores run 0–100, where 100 is best.)

Found in 18 of 9,912 analysed products in the FoodsScan database.

Regulatory sources: IARC, EFSA

Also known as

Sodium Nitrate is also known as e251, sodium nitrate, chile saltpeter — these all refer to the same ingredient.

sodium nitrate e251 chile saltpeter

Where Sodium Nitrate is typically found

Dairies Fermented Foods Fermented Milk Products Cheeses Cow Cheeses

Related additives

Salt (Sodium Chloride) Pork Meat Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) (E300) Sugar (Sucrose) Lactobacillus bulgaricus & Strep. thermophilus Black Pepper Glucose (Dextrose) Savory Sodium Nitrite (E250) Sodium Ascorbate (E301) Sorbic Acid (E200) Sodium Sorbate (E201) Potassium Sorbate (E202) Calcium Sorbate (E203) Benzoic Acid (E210) Sodium Benzoate (E211)

Products containing Sodium Nitrate

Филе Елена ХТСХ 3800203657349
Филе Елена 3800203657684
Pork Pastirma 2828339005033
File Elena 2823263005609
Панагюрска Луканка 4056489692430
Свинска пастърма 4049726030034
Low Fat Smooth Strawberry Flavoured Yoghurt 20168957
Свински суджук 20386726
Телешки суджук 3800779307082
Филе Елена 20709136
Gouda Holland middle age at least 16 weeks matured 4056489203360
Castello bold & creamy with spicy flecks of havarti jalapeno 0093936680033
Sausage 20379582
Brugge  Mi-Vieux 20328269
Gouda grated 20619848
Karlovska lukanka 3800779225072
suncà din piept de curcan 5941536007666
Tramezino cu speck, rucola proaspătă și maioneză 8033971095715

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