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E249✅ Safe

Potassium nitrite

Category

Preservatives

Function

Preservative

EU: ApprovedUS: Not Evaluated

Notes

Cancer risk labeling upheld in French court (2023)

Safe. Generally recognized as safe in typical consumption amounts.

Official Sources

EU Register — EU Register entry for E249(2026-07-01, tier 1)
EFSA — EFSA OpenFood Tox database(2026-07-01, tier 1)
FDA — FDA Substances Added to Food (search: E249)(2026-07-01, tier 1)
Codex Alimentarius — Codex GSFA entry for E249(2026-07-01, tier 2)

Last checked: 2026-07-20