E250: Sodium nitrite
Preservative for meat products; may form nitrosamines. Verdict: debated
| Code | E250 |
| Name | Sodium nitrite |
| Also known as | sodium nitrite, nitrite salt |
| Group | E200–E299 — preservatives |
| Verdict | debated |
Where you meet it
- boiled and smoked sausages
- frankfurters
- ham
- bacon
Frequently asked questions
- Why is sodium nitrite in sausage?
- It suppresses the causative agent of botulism and preserves the pink color. Without it, boiled sausage would be gray and significantly more dangerous from a microbiological perspective.
- Is it true that it is dangerous when fried?
- At high temperatures, nitrites can form nitrosamines. Therefore, products with E250 are not recommended to be heavily fried.
- Is E250 dangerous?
- On the classification this reference uses, E250 is "debated". Preservative for meat products; may form nitrosamines. That is a summary of the Russian TR CU 029/2012 list and the EU permitted lists, not medical advice.
- How do I check whether E250 is in a product I have?
- Photograph the barcode or the ingredients panel — the app reads the list and flags every additive it finds. Three checks are free, with no account.
Check a product rather than guess. Photograph the barcode and the app reads the ingredients, decodes every code and marks the ones worth knowing about.
Others in this group: E202 · E211 · E220 · E251 · the full table
This reference is for information only and does not replace advice from your doctor.