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E252Preservative

Potassium nitrate

What the research shows

Not enough

published research on this page yet

How we decide

A chemical compound, a potassium salt of nitric acid, also called saltpetre.

In processed meats it reacts with hemoglobin and myoglobin generating a red color.

Written from Open Food Facts and English Wikipedia12

  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
  • EU permitted

Regulatory status

Checked Sep 2026

Status reflects the named register on the date checked. It is not a safety rating.

How we check

Products

The 6 most-scanned of 685 products on Open Food Facts that list potassium nitrate.

  • Viande des GRISONS Aoste · 70 g (10 tranches) 3 additives
  • Jambon fumé de la forêt noire Schwarzwälder Schinken Dulano Selection · 200 g 2 additives
  • Stromboli CROSTA MOLLICA 3 additives
  • Wiltshire Cured Ham Tesco Finest · 120 g 2 additives
  • Charlie Bingham Lasagne Charlie Bigham's · 690 g 4 additives
  • Unsmoked Rashers Jolly hog 2 additives

References

  1. 1Potassium nitrate: ingredient taxonomy entry. Open Food Facts.
  2. 2Potassium nitrate. Wikipedia. Accessed September 26, 2026.