Sodium nitrate (E251)
- Food Fine
What is Sodium nitrate (E251)?
Sodium nitrate (E251) is used to cure meats and some cheeses; in food and in the body, part of it turns into nitrite. At the amounts added to food it stays within safe limits and doesn't meaningfully affect how your blood carries oxygen. It's fine at normal amounts; cancer links to processed meat can't be pinned on nitrate alone.
What is Yasno’s verdict on Sodium nitrate?
Yasno’s verdict on Sodium nitrate: Fine. No meaningful concern at normal amounts.
Is Sodium nitrate allowed in the EU?
EU status of Sodium nitrate: Listed in Yasno’s EU regulatory data, with no further details recorded. Conditions and limits come from the regulation cited below. Yasno summarises them and does not replace the legal text.
| Where | EU | US |
|---|---|---|
| Food | Listed in Yasno’s EU regulatory data, with no further details recorded | Regulated as a food additive by the US FDA |
What else is it called?
- Chile saltpeter
- Cubic niter
- Soda niter
Sources
- Re-evaluation of sodium nitrate (E 251) and potassium nitrate (E 252) as food additives, European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), 2017
Always check the physical label. Yasno describes evidence and regulatory status. It never says a product is free of an allergen or safe for you, and it is not medical advice.
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