Sodium nitrite (E250)

Sodium nitrite (E250) is not a marker of ultra-processing. It is one of the markers Open Food Facts uses to classify a food as processed (NOVA group 3).

What it is and why it counts

Preservatives are substances which prolong the shelf-life of foods by protecting them against deterioration caused by micro-organisms and/or which protect against growth of pathogenic micro-organisms.

Preservation and traditional processing

Preservatives, enzymes and cultures keep food safe or carry out traditional processes such as fermentation. Open Food Facts counts them as signs of processing (group 3), not ultra-processing.

Function

Preservative: Preservatives are substances which prolong the shelf-life of foods by protecting them against deterioration caused by micro-organisms and/or which protect against growth of pathogenic micro-organisms.

Functional class definitions from the EU food additives regulation, via Open Food Facts.

More about sodium nitrite (E250) on Wikidata

Where it turns up

Sodium nitrite (E250) appears in 930 of the 40,000 products on this site (2%).

Hams 82 of 223 products
Sausages 58 of 337 products
White hams 49 of 65 products
Bacon 43 of 109 products
Frozen pizzas 42 of 191 products
Salami 35 of 45 products

Products containing sodium nitrite (E250)

Showing the 60 most popular of 930.

How the NOVA classification works