{
  "$schema": "https://foodadditiveindex.com/api/v1/schema.json",
  "id": "https://foodadditiveindex.com/additives/sodium-nitrate",
  "slug": "sodium-nitrate",
  "name": "Sodium nitrate",
  "identifiers": {
    "e_number": "E251",
    "ins_number": "251",
    "cas_number": "7631-99-4",
    "inchikey": "VWDWKYIASSYTQR-UHFFFAOYSA-N",
    "pubchem_cid": 24268
  },
  "functional_class": "Preservative",
  "summary": "Sodium nitrate is used in slow-cured meats such as dry-cured hams, where bacteria convert it gradually to nitrite over months. It is a reservoir rather than an active curing agent.",
  "derivation_summary": "Mined as Chile saltpetre or manufactured by neutralising nitric acid with sodium. Nitrate also occurs at high levels in leafy vegetables, which are a larger dietary source than cured meat for most people.",
  "regulatory_status": [
    {
      "jurisdiction": "US",
      "jurisdiction_name": "United States",
      "authority": "Food and Drug Administration",
      "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
      "status_label": "Permitted, with conditions",
      "provision_count": 1,
      "provisions": [
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": null,
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": null,
          "conditions": null,
          "effective_from": null,
          "citation": {
            "ref": "21 CFR 172.170",
            "url": "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-172.170"
          },
          "source": "ecfr",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T18:25:51.549Z"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction": "CODEX",
      "jurisdiction_name": "Codex Alimentarius",
      "authority": "Codex Alimentarius Commission / JECFA",
      "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
      "status_label": "Permitted, with conditions",
      "provision_count": 1,
      "provisions": [
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "01.6.2",
            "name": "Ripened cheese"
          },
          "max_level": 35,
          "max_level_unit": "mg/kg",
          "conditions": "GSFA notes: 30, 464, XS208, XS274, XS276, XS277, XS278",
          "effective_from": "2021",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 251, food category 01.6.2",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "names": [
    {
      "name": "14797-55-8",
      "type": "cas",
      "source": "openfoodtox"
    },
    {
      "name": "15621-57-5",
      "type": "cas",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "7631-99-4",
      "type": "cas",
      "source": "openfoodtox"
    },
    {
      "name": "0.001M Sodium nitrate",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "8M4L3H2ZVZ",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Caswell No. 781",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "CCRIS 558",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Chile salpeter",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Chile saltpeter",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Cubic niter",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "E 251",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "openfoodtox"
    },
    {
      "name": "E 251-252",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "openfoodtox"
    },
    {
      "name": "EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 076104",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "etabisulfite",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "HSDB 726",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "INFLAMMATIONS",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "INS NO.251",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "INS-251",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "NaNO3",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Natrum nitricum",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Nitrate",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "openfoodtox"
    },
    {
      "name": "Nitrate de sodium",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Nitrate of soda",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Nitrate, sodium",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "NITRATES",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "gsfa"
    },
    {
      "name": "Nitratine",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Nitratite (Na(NO3))",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Nitric acid monosodium salt",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Nitric acid sodium salt (1:1)",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Nitric acid, sodium salt",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Nitrogen and oxygen isotopes in nitrate, NIST(R) RM 8569",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Saltpeter (Chile)",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Saltpeter (Chile) (VAN)",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Soda niter",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sodium nitrate",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "openfoodtox"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sodium nitrate (NaNO3)",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sodium nitrate(DOT)",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sodium nitrate, 99.995% trace metals basis",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sodium nitrate, 99.999% (metals basis)",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sodium nitrate, >=99.0%, plant cell culture tested",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sodium nitrate, ACS reagent",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sodium nitrate, ACS reagent grade",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sodium nitrate, ACS reagent, >=99.0%",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sodium nitrate, analytical standard",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sodium nitrate, anhydrous, 99.995% trace metals basis",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sodium nitrate, anhydrous, free-flowing, Redi-Dri(TM), ReagentPlus(R), >=99%",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sodium nitrate, AR, >=99.5%",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sodium nitrate, beads, 1-2 mm, 98%",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sodium nitrate, BioUltra, >=99.0% (T)",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sodium nitrate, BioXtra, >=99.0%",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sodium nitrate, JIS special grade, >=99.0%",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sodium nitrate, LR, >=98%",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sodium nitrate, meets analytical specification of FCC, E251, 99.0-100.5%",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sodium nitrate, p.a., ACS reagent, reag. ISO, reag. Ph. Eur., 99%",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sodium nitrate, puriss. p.a., ACS reagent, reag. ISO, >=99.5%",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sodium nitrate, ReagentPlus(R), >=99.0%",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sodium nitrate, SAJ first grade, >=99.0%",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sodium saltpeter",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "sodium trioxidonitrate(1-)",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sodium(I) nitrate (1:1)",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "sodiumnitrate",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "E251",
      "type": "e_number",
      "source": "openfoodtox"
    },
    {
      "name": "251",
      "type": "ins",
      "source": "gsfa"
    },
    {
      "name": "Nitrate",
      "type": "iupac",
      "source": "openfoodtox"
    },
    {
      "name": "sodium nitrate",
      "type": "iupac",
      "source": "openfoodtox"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sodium nitrate, containing in the dry state more than 16,3 per cent by weight of nitrogen",
      "type": "iupac",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sodium nitrate",
      "type": "label",
      "source": "ecfr"
    }
  ],
  "hazard_reference_values": [
    {
      "type": "ADI",
      "value": 3.7,
      "value_text": null,
      "unit": "mg/kg bw/day",
      "population": "consumers",
      "assessing_body": "EFSA ANS",
      "year": 2017,
      "opinion": {
        "ref": "doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2017.4787",
        "url": "https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2017.4787"
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "ADI",
      "value": 3.7,
      "value_text": null,
      "unit": "mg/kg bw/day",
      "population": "adults",
      "assessing_body": "EFSA",
      "year": null,
      "opinion": null
    },
    {
      "type": "ADI",
      "value": 3.7,
      "value_text": null,
      "unit": "mg/kg bw/day",
      "population": "consumers",
      "assessing_body": "EFSA",
      "year": null,
      "opinion": null
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "key": "ecfr",
      "name": "Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21",
      "publisher": "U.S. Government Publishing Office / National Archives",
      "licence": "Public domain",
      "url": "https://www.ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2026-08-31/title-21.xml",
      "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T18:25:51.549Z"
    },
    {
      "key": "gsfa",
      "name": "Codex General Standard for Food Additives (CXS 192-1995)",
      "publisher": "Codex Alimentarius Commission (FAO/WHO)",
      "licence": "FAO terms — non-commercial use with attribution",
      "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/",
      "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
    }
  ],
  "citation_policy": "Cite as: Food Additive Index, \"Sodium nitrate\", https://foodadditiveindex.com/additives/sodium-nitrate. This site reports regulatory status and does not rate additives.",
  "generated_at": "2026-09-08T00:09:38.698Z"
}