Preservative · EU 252
Potassium Nitrate
FDA status: Approved. EU: Approved. No U.S. state has enacted a specific ban yet.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Potassium Nitrate is FDA-approved, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it independently of federal policy. Its composite safety score is 2 out of 5 (Caution), and the European Union separately classifies it as approved. By tracked product count it ranks #166 of 417.
- #166 of 417 by tracked product prevalence
The verdict
Potassium Nitrate is FDA-approved, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it. By Open Food Facts product count it sits #166 of 417 among additives with tracked product presence (60th percentile).
- 2/5
- Caution
- Approved
- FDA status
- #166 of 417
- product-prevalence rank
- 0
- state regulations
Product-footprint and regulatory snapshot
Potassium Nitrate: 42 tracked U.S. products (moderate band, #166 of 417) frame how often this additive appears on shelves.
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tracked Products | 42 · #166 of 417 | Open Food Facts (US) |
| FDA Status | Approved | FDA SAFFA |
| EU Status | Approved | EC 1333/2008 |
| E-Number | 252 | EU additive register |
| CAS Number | - | CAS Registry |
| Category | Preservative | FDA functional class |
| Composite Safety Score | 2 / 5 (Caution) | PlainIngredients methodology |
| EFSA ADI | 3.7 | EFSA scientific opinion |
| U.S. State Actions | 0 states | State legislative records |
Values reflect official agency classifications as published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Union's regulatory framework. See our methodology for scoring details.
What is Potassium Nitrate?
POTASSIUM NITRATE is a chemical compound with the chemical formula KNO3. The widespread adoption of nitrate use is more recent and is linked to the development of large-scale meat processing. potassium nitrate is still used in some food applications, such as salami, dry-cured ham, charcuterie.
Health Concerns
- EFSA evaluation: Re‐evaluation of sodium nitrate -E 251- and potassium nitrate -E 252- as food additives. EFSA overexposure risk: high
Common Uses
Shelf-footprint peer axes
Nationwide peers for a moderate OFF footprint
Nearest OFF product-count peers (42 tracked here); safety-score column omitted on prevalence-led pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Potassium Nitrate safe to consume?
Potassium Nitrate scores 2/5 (Caution). FDA status is Approved. On the Open Food Facts U.S. sample it is a moderate additive (42 tracked products, #166 of 417), so product footprint, not just the score label, frames how widely a shopper will meet it.
What is Potassium Nitrate used for in food?
Potassium Nitrate shows up as Processed foods, baked goods, beverages in the Preservative class, and the OFF sample puts it in the moderate footprint band (42 products).
Where does Potassium Nitrate sit among food additives PlainIngredients tracks?
Among additives with at least one tracked product, it ranks #166 of 417 by Open Food Facts product count. See /methodology#corpus-placement for the ranking bases.
What health concerns are associated with Potassium Nitrate?
Research has identified the following health concerns for Potassium Nitrate: EFSA evaluation: Re‐evaluation of sodium nitrate -E 251- and potassium nitrate -E 252- as food additives. EFSA overexposure risk: high. These findings inform its safety score of 2/5. Consult a healthcare provider for personalized guidance, especially if you have pre-existing conditions.