Additive · Preservative

E251 — Sodium nitrate · page 5

E251 (Sodium nitrate) appears in the ingredient lists of 195 products sold in the United Kingdom. Function: preservative.

195products with a complete record

11%rated A or B on Nutri-Score

1.1 gsugars per 100 g (median)

1.6 gsalt per 100 g (median)

Nutri-Score

How rated products spread

ACDE

A 7%B 4%C 19%D 45%E 25%

161 rated products

Per 100 g, across all 195 products

Listed in the FDA inventory “Substances Added to Food”, with the regulations 21 CFR 172.170, 172.175, 173.310.

Technical effects listed by the FDA: antimicrobial agent, color or coloring adjunct, flavor enhancer, flavoring agent or adjuvant, propellant

The inventory is a partial list, and a listing is not an FDA approval of every use; the regulations set the permitted uses.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Substances Added to Food (updated 9/8/2026), public domain · CAS 7631-99-4 via Wikidata (CC0)

195 products, most viewed first · page 5 of 5.

Source: Open Food Facts export of 1 November 2026, ODbL · Shelfpedia calculations (medians, distributions).