Is Sodium Nitrite safe to consume? Here's what our analysis found across 599 products in our database.
Also known as: E250, Nitrite, Curing salt
Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI): 0.07 mg/kg body weight/day (EFSA, 2017)
An inorganic compound used as a preservative and color fixative in cured meats (bacon, hot dogs, deli meats, ham). It prevents growth of Clostridium botulinum, the bacterium responsible for botulism.
Reacts with secondary amines in meat during high-temperature cooking to form N-nitrosamines, a class of compounds classified as probable human carcinogens (IARC Group 2A). The nitrite itself also reacts with hemoglobin, which is why it is regulated to prevent methemoglobinemia.
Commonly found in: Bacon, Hot dogs, Deli meats, Ham, Jerky, Pepperoni, Sausage
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| Product | Brand | Score |
|---|---|---|
| MEAT TRIO PIZZA ITALIAN SAUSAGE, BEEF PATTY CRUMBLE & PREMIUM DELI STYLE PEPPERONI, MEDIUM | Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. | 0/100 |
| OVEN ROASTED LEAN WHITE TURKEY, OVEN ROASTED | Kraft Heinz Foods Company | 2/100 |
| OSCAR MAYER, LEAN HONEY HAM | Kraft Heinz Foods Company | 2/100 |
| Ultimate meat pizza | Marketside | 2/100 |
| Totino's Frozen Combination Party Pizza | GENERAL MILLS SALES INC. | 3/100 |
| PIERRE, DRIVE THRU, BACON CHEESEBURGER | AdvancePierre Foods Inc. | 4/100 |
| PEPPERONI MADE WITH PORK, CHICKEN & BEEF TRADITIONAL CRUST PIZZA, PEPPERONI | Nestle USA Inc. | 4/100 |
| OSCAR MAYER, CHILI CHEESE DOGS | Kraft Heinz Foods Company | 4/100 |
| Totino's Frozen Pepperoni Party Pizza | GENERAL MILLS SALES INC. | 5/100 |
| Totino's Frozen Classic Pepperoni Party Pizza | GENERAL MILLS SALES INC. | 5/100 |
| CHICKEN CORN DOGS, BATTER DIPPED CHICKEN FRANKS ON A STICK | Monogram Food Solutions LLC | 7/100 |
| RED BARON, CLASSIC CRUST SUPREME PIZZA | The Schwan Food Company | 7/100 |
| Corn Dogs | Bremer | 7/100 |
| PEPPERONI PIZZA IN A GOLDEN CRUST PIZZA SNACK ROLLS, PEPPERONI | Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. | 8/100 |
| Pepperoni Pizza Snack Rolls | Kroger | 8/100 |
| PEPPERONI PIZZA IN A GOLDEN CRUST POP'N PIZZA SNACK ROLLS, PEPPERONI | Bellisio Foods Inc | 8/100 |
| DIGIORNO, ORIGINAL RISING CRUST | Nestle USA Inc. | 8/100 |
| PIZZA SNACK ROLLS, PEPPERONI | The Kroger Co. | 8/100 |
| SAUSAGE & PEPPERONI PIZZA SNACK ROLLS, SAUSAGE & PEPPERONI | Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. | 9/100 |
| Totino's Pepperoni & Bacon Pizza Rolls 50 Count | GENERAL MILLS SALES INC. | 9/100 |
Showing 20 of 599 products.
Test Products for Sodium Nitrite →This page provides ingredient information for educational purposes. It is not medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional for personalized guidance.
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CheckIt AI. (2026). "Is Sodium Nitrite Safe? FDA Status, Health Effects & Alternatives | CheckIt AI". Climaverse PBC. Retrieved from https://getcheck.it/ingredient-safety/sodium-nitrite"Is Sodium Nitrite Safe? FDA Status, Health Effects & Alternatives | CheckIt AI." CheckIt AI, Climaverse PBC, 2026-04-05. https://getcheck.it/ingredient-safety/sodium-nitrite.<a href="https://getcheck.it/ingredient-safety/sodium-nitrite">Is Sodium Nitrite Safe? FDA Status, Health Effects & Alternatives | CheckIt AI — CheckIt AI</a>@misc{checkit2026ingredientsafetysodiumnitrite,
title = {Is Sodium Nitrite Safe? FDA Status, Health Effects & Alternatives | CheckIt AI},
author = {CheckIt AI},
year = {2026},
publisher = {Climaverse PBC},
url = {https://getcheck.it/ingredient-safety/sodium-nitrite},
note = {Retrieved 2026-04-05}
}