Potassium Nitrite
Function: Preservative
E249 is the European food-additive number for Potassium Nitrite, a preservative — used to extend shelf life by slowing spoilage from microbes. Potassium Nitrite (E249) is a preservative used as a food additive.
What is E249 used for?
Potassium Nitrite (E249) is a preservative — used to extend shelf life by slowing spoilage from microbes. It is added during food production for a technological purpose rather than for nutrition. See all preservatives (E-numbers).
Is E249 safe or restricted?
E249 is banned or severely restricted in one or more jurisdictions. Forkin classifies it as “Severely restricted” and does not make health claims. See the methodology for how regulatory levels are assigned, or the guide to how EU additives are approved, re-evaluated and banned.
Is E249 vegan or vegetarian?
Potassium Nitrite (E249) is typically produced from plant, mineral, or synthetic sources, so it is generally suitable for vegans and vegetarians.
The production source can vary between manufacturers — the Forkin app shows the verified vegan and vegetarian status per product. Always read the label for allergens.
Which foods contain E249?
E249 appears in 1,294 of the 4.7 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in sausages, ham and pork (general).
- Sausages298
- Ham186
- Pork (General)179
- Salami / Chorizo91
- Bacon65
- Prosciutto / Serrano50
- Chorizo / Sausage36
- Beef (General)19
Often appears alongside
Additives most frequently found in the same ingredient lists as E249 across the catalogue.
Counts reflect Forkin's independently enriched product catalogue and update as new products are added — they are not a market-share statistic.
Frequently asked questions about E249
- What is E249?
- E249 is the E-number for Potassium Nitrite, a preservative — used to extend shelf life by slowing spoilage from microbes. Potassium Nitrite (E249) is a preservative used as a food additive.
- What is E249 used for?
- Potassium Nitrite (E249) is a preservative — used to extend shelf life by slowing spoilage from microbes. Manufacturers add it during processing rather than for nutrition. The Forkin app shows which products in your scan history actually contain it.
- Which foods contain E249?
- E249 appears in 1,294 of the 4.7 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in sausages, ham and pork (general). Scan any barcode with the Forkin app to see instantly whether a specific product contains it.
- Is E249 vegan or vegetarian?
- Potassium Nitrite (E249) is typically produced from plant, mineral, or synthetic sources, so it is generally suitable for vegans and vegetarians. The Forkin app shows the verified vegan and vegetarian status per product, since the source can vary between manufacturers.
- Is E249 safe, and is it banned anywhere?
- E249 is banned or severely restricted in one or more jurisdictions. Forkin classifies it as "Severely restricted" and does not make health claims — see the methodology page for how regulatory levels are assigned, and the Forkin app for the full profile, including acceptable daily intake (ADI) and restrictions by country.
See the full profile in Forkin
The Forkin app surfaces the full regulatory profile of E249 — acceptable daily intake (ADI), restrictions by country, vegan/vegetarian status, alternative names, and which products in your scan history contain it. See view pricing.