E250Preservative
Sodium nitrite
What the research shows
PrototypeNot enough
published research on this page yet
1 health finding on this page so far · See the findings
What research says
Studies in people
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Concern
Prostate cancer risk3
In people, eating more sodium nitrite as a food additive was linked to more prostate cancer, though scientists say this needs confirming.
The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least two findings in people. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.
Regulatory status
Checked Sep 2026-
United States Permitted FDA 21 CFR 172.175
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European Union Permitted EUR-Lex Reg. (EC) 1333/2008
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United Kingdom Permitted FSA retained EU law
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Canada Permitted Health Canada · Preservatives
Status reflects the named register on the date checked. It is not a safety rating.
How we checkProducts
The 6 most-scanned of 12,649 products on Open Food Facts that list sodium nitrite.
- Jambon fumé de la forêt noire Schwarzwälder Schinken Dulano Selection · 200 g 2 additives
- Chicken Frankfurters Dulano · 350 g 3 additives
- Regina sourdough pizza ham mushroom & mozzarella Crosta & Mollica 2 additives
- Frankfurters Dulano · 350 g 3 additives
- Stromboli CROSTA MOLLICA 3 additives
- MR BEAST BEEF JERKY ORIGINAL JACK LINK'S · 25 g 3 additives
References
- 1Sodium nitrite: ingredient taxonomy entry. Open Food Facts.
- 2Sodium nitrite. Wikipedia. Accessed September 25, 2026.
- 3Chazelas E, Pierre F, Druesne-Pecollo N, et al. Nitrites and nitrates from food additives and natural sources and cancer risk: results from the NutriNet-Santé cohort. Int J Epidemiol. 2022;51(4):1106-1119. doi:10.1093/ije/dyac046