Sodium nitrate (E251)

Sodium nitrate (E251) 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 nitrate (E251) on Wikidata

Where it turns up

Sodium nitrate (E251) appears in 78 of the 40,000 products on this site (0%).

Bacon 5 of 109 products
Smoked bacon 5 of 26 products
Hams 4 of 223 products
Prepared meats 4 of 881 products
Salami 3 of 45 products
White hams 3 of 65 products

Products containing sodium nitrate (E251)

Showing the 60 most popular of 78.

How the NOVA classification works