FDA Status
Approved
Preservative · EU 251
Sodium Nitrate
FDA status: Approved. EU: Approved. No U.S. state has enacted a specific ban yet.
2.0 / 5
Composite safety Caution
Score 2 of 5
Sodium Nitrate: 2/5 (Caution)
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Sodium 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. It is used in a moderate number of tracked products.
- 72th percentile by tracked product prevalence
The verdict
Sodium Nitrate is FDA-approved, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it. It is used in a moderate number of tracked products (72th percentile by tracked product count).
- 2/5
- Caution
- Approved
- FDA status
- 72th pctile
- by product prevalence
- 0
- state regulations
Sodium Nitrate (251) is a preservative additive holding a composite safety score of 2 out of 5 (Caution). According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Substances Added to Food inventory, it is currently classified as Approved, while the European Union lists it as Approved. This ingredient appears in approximately 149 tracked food products across our database. It is most commonly used as Processed foods, baked goods, beverages.
No U.S. state has enacted specific legislation targeting Sodium Nitrate to date, keeping federal FDA classification as the operative standard. State-level food safety legislation remains active nationally, and that picture may shift as new bills advance.
Peer-reviewed research has flagged 1 distinct area of health concern for Sodium Nitrate, which factors directly into the assigned safety score. The European Food Safety Authority has published an evaluation dated 2017/06/15, with an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 3.7. EFSA has noted an overexposure risk classification of "high" for typical consumption patterns. All figures above draw on FDA SAFFA inventory records, EU food additive regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, EFSA scientific opinions where published, and legislative records from individual U.S. states.
Regulatory Snapshot
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FDA Status | Approved | FDA SAFFA |
| EU Status | Approved | EC 1333/2008 |
| E-Number | 251 | 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 |
| Tracked Products | 149 | Open Food Facts (US) |
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.
EU Status
Approved
251
U.S. State Regulations
0 states
None enacted
Safety Assessment
Sodium Nitrate's 2/5 (Caution) score reflects where this specific ingredient lands on that scale. The FDA has approved Sodium Nitrate for use in food products under specified conditions.
Research has identified 1 area of health concern associated with Sodium Nitrate. Consumers with specific health conditions should consult a healthcare provider before consuming products containing this ingredient.
How Sodium Nitrate compares
Where a safety score of 2/5 falls among all 4,509 scored ingredients tracked on PlainIngredients.
Ingredients by safety score (Sodium Nitrate highlighted)
43 of 4,509 scored ingredients (1%) share a safety score of 2/5.
What is Sodium Nitrate?
SODIUM NITRATE is the chemical compound with the formula NaNO3. Sodium nitrate is a food additive used as a preservative and colour fixative in cured meats and poultry
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
Processed foods, baked goods, beverages
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sodium Nitrate safe to consume?
Sodium Nitrate has a safety score of 2/5 (Caution). Scientific studies have raised health concerns. Check with a healthcare provider for personalized advice.
What is Sodium Nitrate used for in food?
Sodium Nitrate is commonly used as: Processed foods, baked goods, beverages. It belongs to the Preservative category of food additives.
Is Sodium Nitrate banned in any US states?
Currently, no US states have enacted specific bans or regulations targeting Sodium Nitrate. However, state food safety legislation is evolving rapidly.
What is the difference between FDA and EU regulation of Sodium Nitrate?
The FDA classifies Sodium Nitrate as "Approved", while the EU status is "Approved" (251). The FDA and EU use separate evaluation frameworks, the EU often applies the precautionary principle, sometimes banning additives that remain approved in the US. Always check both jurisdictions when evaluating food additive safety.
What health concerns are associated with Sodium Nitrate?
Research has identified the following health concerns for Sodium 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.
How is the safety score for Sodium Nitrate calculated?
The safety score of 2/5 for Sodium Nitrate is a composite assessment based on FDA regulatory status, EU approval status, published scientific research on health effects, and state-level legislative actions. A score of 1 means "Banned / Avoid" and 5 means "Generally Safe." The score is updated as new regulatory actions or scientific evidence emerge.
Data Sources
- FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) Inventory
- EU Food Additive Regulations (EC) No 1333/2008
- State food safety legislation and bill records
Related Preservative Ingredients
What to do about Sodium Nitrate
This additive is flagged, worth checking labels for.
- Check the FDA status (Approved) and EU status (Approved) before assuming it is risk-free. How we score
- Compare it against the most-restricted additives in the U.S. supply. View rankings
- Scan a whole ingredient label at once to flag the concerning entries. Label checker
Safety scores summarise regulatory status and published concerns; they are not medical or dietary advice.
Every figure on PlainIngredients is rendered directly from FDA, EU, EFSA and U.S. state regulatory records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.