E250 - Sodium Nitrite

Author: Mark Velov Time for reading: ~1 minutes Last Updated: April 15, 2024

CHAPTERS (Table Of Contents)

Characteristics: E 250 is the potassium salt of nitric acid. The food additive is used as a color improver and fixative, as a preservative in the food industry, added

Characteristic

E 250 is the sodium salt of nitric acid. The food additive is used as a color improver and fixative, as a preservative in the food industry, added to meat and fish. It looks like a white or not very yellow crystalline hygroscopic powder. The substance dissolves well in water. A natural source of nitrite production is the biological formation of nitrates, which remain in various foods. Impurities: nitrates.

Use

Sodium nitrite is used in the production of smoked meats and sausages to give the characteristic pink-red color. But nitrites are always dangerous to human health if consumed in large quantities. The EU approves the use of the substance only as an additive to salt, but not more than 0.6%.

Sodium nitrite is used in many fields: in construction (concrete admixture), in the production of pulp and paper, in the chemical (diazo dyes, nitro compounds and other organic compounds) and textile industries, in medicine (including veterinary), in metallurgy and in many other industries.

Impact on humans

E 250 is characterized by the following properties: dilates blood vessels, laxative and bronchodilator action, relieves intestinal cramps. Sodium nitrite is used in the treatment of a number of diseases: sickle cell anemia, cyanide poisoning, heart attack, ischemic heart disease, cerebral aneurysm and pulmonary hypertension in children. The food supplement is toxic and carcinogenic. Consumption of meat and fish products that have undergone heat treatment with sodium nitrate can lead to cancer. Taking large amounts of such products could cause bowel and lung cancer.

E250 - Sodium Nitrite

CHAPTERS (Table Of Contents)

Characteristic

Use

Impact on humans

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