Sodium nitrite

What this is

Sodium nitrite is regulated because it has both a real food-safety role and a real toxicology boundary. FDA and USDA allow it only in specified foods and curing contexts, with finished-product limits; Codex lists INS 250 in the nitrites group with specific processed-meat residual limits; and EU E 250 remains authorized but was updated under Regulation (EU) 2023/2108. EFSA derived an acceptable daily intake of 0.07 mg nitrite ion/kg body weight/day based on methemoglobin effects and found additive-only exposure generally below that level, except slight exceedance in high-percentile children. The main concern is that nitrite can participate in formation of N-nitroso compounds; IARC classifies ingested nitrate or nitrite under endogenous nitrosation conditions as probably carcinogenic to humans. A recent UK review describes mixed, non-conclusive human evidence, with highest concern in very high processed-meat diets. Separately, some U.S. states restrict high-purity consumer sales because of acute poisoning risk; those laws do not broadly ban regulated food uses.

Safety Review

The health areas reviewed when evaluating an ingredient. This does not mean the ingredient is proven to cause harm.

EFSA's ADI is based on methemoglobin effects, and concentrated sodium nitrite ingestion can cause severe poisoning and death. In food, concern also comes from nitrosamine chemistry: nitrite can participate in formation of N-nitroso compounds, with greatest concern in high processed-meat dietary patterns and high-exposure children.