E252 — Potassium nitrate
E252 (Potassium nitrate) appears in the ingredient lists of 466 products sold in the United Kingdom. Function: preservative.
Nutri-Score
399 rated products
Median values
| Energy | 231 kcal |
| Sugars | 0.90 g |
| Saturates | 4.2 g |
| Salt | 2.2 g |
Categories
- Bacon34
- Hams19
- Chorizos18
- Bacon rashers18
- Pizzas17
- White hams15
- Salami11
- Back bacon11
Status in the United States (FDA)
Listed in the FDA inventory “Substances Added to Food”, with the regulations 21 CFR 172.160.
Technical effects listed by the FDA: antimicrobial agent, color or coloring adjunct, flavor enhancer, flavoring agent or adjuvant
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 7757-79-1 via Wikidata (CC0)
Products containing it, by country
Products listing this additive in each country edition of Shelfpedia (Open Food Facts data)
Products
466 products, most viewed first · page 1 of 10.
Source: Open Food Facts export of 23 October 2026, ODbL · Shelfpedia calculations (medians, distributions).