Potassium nitrate (E252)
Updated October 2, 2026
Potassium nitrate (E252) is a food additive in the “preservatives” group. It appears in 6,668 products in our database, 23 of them sold in the US.
Quick facts
- Also known as
- E252
- E-number
- E252
- Function
- Preservatives
- Found in
- 6,668 products (23 sold in the US)
Foods that commonly contain Potassium nitrate
Share of published products in each category whose ingredient list includes Potassium nitrate.
Popular products with Potassium nitrate
e NOVA 4 
e NOVA 4 
c NOVA 4 
c NOVA 4 
NOVA 4 
a NOVA 3 
b NOVA 4 
e NOVA 3 
e NOVA 3 
d NOVA 3 Potassium nitrate-free alternatives
Popular products from the same categories that don't list Potassium nitrate and score Nutri-Score A–C.
b NOVA 3 
c NOVA 3 
c NOVA 4 
c NOVA 4 How to spot Potassium nitrate on a label
Look for any of these names in the ingredient list:
Related additives
Frequently asked questions
What foods contain Potassium nitrate?
In our database, Potassium nitrate most often appears in raw cured ham, dry sausages, chorizo and salami.
How many products contain Potassium nitrate?
6,668 published products on Foodmetria list Potassium nitrate, including 23 sold in the United States. Counts come from ingredient lists in Open Food Facts and update daily.
Product data: Open Food Facts (ODbL), updated daily. Additive information is for general education and is not medical advice. Always check the package label. Our methodology.