Additives
Sodium Nitrate (E251): What It Is and Is It Safe?
Moderate
Preservative · Curing agent
Converted to nitrite in the body. Similar concerns to sodium nitrite - potential nitrosamine formation associated with processed meat cancer risk.
- Category
- Preservative — Curing agent
- Typically used in
- Hard cheeses, cured meats, salami
- Regulatory status
- Approved EU/USA/UK. Similar risks to E250.
- Concerns flagged
-
Carcinogenicity concernCardiovascular concernEndocrine disruption
Scrannr flags Sodium Nitrate automatically when you scan a barcode.
Sources
Where this comes from
- EFSA (2017) — Re‐evaluation of sodium nitrate -E 251- and potassium nitrate -E 252- as food additives https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2017.4787
- IARC (2010) — IARC Monographs Vol. 94 – Ingested Nitrate and Nitrite as food additives (Group 2A) https://publications.iarc.who.int/Book-And-Report-Series/Iarc-Monographs-On-The-Identification-Of-Carcinogenic-Hazards-To-Humans/Ingested-Nitrate-And-Nitrite-And-Cyanobacterial-Peptide-Toxins-2010
Products
Products containing Sodium Nitrate
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