Potassium Nitrate

E252
Hazard level: High health concern Preservative (E200–299)

What is Potassium Nitrate?

Traditional curing agent (saltpetre) in dry-cured meats. Converts to nitrite; contributes to the nitrosamine mechanism behind processed meat's IARC Group 1 classification.

Is Potassium Nitrate safe?

Potassium 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 74 of 9,912 analysed products in the FoodsScan database.

Regulatory sources: IARC, EFSA

Also known as

Potassium Nitrate is also known as e252, saltpetre, saltpeter, potassium nitrate — these all refer to the same ingredient.

potassium nitrate e252 saltpetre saltpeter

Where Potassium Nitrate is typically found

Meats And Their Products Prepared Meats Sausages Meats Pork And Its Products

Related additives

Salt (Sodium Chloride) Pork Meat Sodium Nitrite (E250) Sodium Ascorbate (E301) Glucose (Dextrose) Spices Sugar (Sucrose) Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) (E300) Natural Flavouring Beef Meat Sorbic Acid (E200) Sodium Sorbate (E201) Potassium Sorbate (E202) Calcium Sorbate (E203) Benzoic Acid (E210) Sodium Benzoate (E211)

Products containing Potassium Nitrate

Salame Napoli 8007273002405
Smyadovska lukanka, sliced (dry sausage) 4056489693130
Луканка Пазарджик 2833591002041
Луканка Смядовска 4056489693802
Панагюрска луканка 3800202645378
Бабек 4056489474340
Суджук от телешко и говеждо месо 3800214928803
Старобългарска Луканка 1257 3800202641257
Сурово сушен суджук 3800047791070
Суджук 3800047779009
Lukanka domashna 3800214923266
Луканков салам средна гора 4056489941354
Фует с бял пипер 4056489802013
Лонганиза de payes 8437013754187
Салам Пеперони нарязан 3800849209070
Beef Pastrami 3800214923310
Bresaola 2828590003243
Роле Трапезица 4056489942405
JAMÓN SERRANO GRAN RESERVA Original Spanish Dry-Cured Ham 4056489904885
Говежди суджук 3800233799453
Шунка Серано 5118 3800202645118
ловджийска Луканка нарязана 4056489693307
Филе Елена 4056489693147
Луканков салам 4056489941361
Майсторлъшки старец 3800047791063
Филе Елена 3800106203988
Шварцвалдска шунка ЗГУ 4063367318696
Френско плато 4337185816871
Орехите луканка резерва слайс 100 г 3800047792879
Филе Елена нарязано 4056489693871
Low Fat Smooth Strawberry Flavoured Yoghurt 20168957
Jamón Serrano 4063367135378
Schwarzwalder Shinken 9008684034831
Луканка 3800837436327
Луканка Перелик 0,200 3800047778590
Луканка 3800211983294
Луканка Панагюрска 3800202643039
Свински шпек 3800214921828
Горнооряховски суджук 20963248
Нашенски Специалист Сандвич 3800759865212
Чоризо 9008684034862
Salami with Herbes de Provence 4056489613503
Негрини Truffle salame слайс 80 г 8003948003357
Луканка Маджаров 3800106205203
Дивечова луканка 3800202645569
Дивечов суджук 0397 3800202640397
Панагюрска Луканка 3800202647112
Сурово-сушен салам тип луканков 3800047729004
Сурово-сушен Добруджански Бабек 3800047764258
Сушеница телешка 3800047748876
Бабек сурово-сушен 3800047775711
Телешки Суджук Слайс 3800214923495
Longaniza de pagès 20646547
Saucisse Madjarov sèche cru 3800106203322
Sudjuk Dobrudjanski Orehite 3800047748135
Салам с орехи 4056489041122
Schwarzwälder Schinken 4056489114710
Chorizo extra piquante 20879723
Söts Mar Chorizo I extra dulce Classic Chorizo 11/ 20879730
Телешка луканка 3800047748869

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