Potassium nitrite (E249)
Updated October 2, 2026
Potassium nitrite (E249) is a food additive in the “preservatives” group. It appears in 97 products in our database, 4 of them sold in the US.
Quick facts
- Also known as
- E249
- E-number
- E249
- Function
- Preservatives
- Found in
- 97 products (4 sold in the US)
Foods that commonly contain Potassium nitrite
Share of published products in each category whose ingredient list includes Potassium nitrite.
Popular products with Potassium nitrite
NOVA 4 
e NOVA 4 
e NOVA 4 
NOVA 4 
e NOVA 3 
e NOVA 4 Potassium nitrite-free alternatives
Popular products from the same categories that don't list Potassium nitrite and score Nutri-Score A–C.
c 
c NOVA 3 
b NOVA 3 
a NOVA 3 
c NOVA 4 How to spot Potassium nitrite on a label
Look for any of these names in the ingredient list:
Related additives
Frequently asked questions
What foods contain Potassium nitrite?
In our database, Potassium nitrite most often appears in raw cured ham, groceries, prepared meats and cured sausages.
How many products contain Potassium nitrite?
97 published products on Foodmetria list Potassium nitrite, including 4 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.