Potassium Nitrate
Function: Preservative
E252 is the European food-additive number for Potassium Nitrate, a preservative — used to extend shelf life by slowing spoilage from microbes. POTASSIUM NITRATE is a chemical compound with the chemical formula KNO3.
What is E252 used for?
Potassium Nitrate (E252) 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 E252 safe or restricted?
E252 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 E252 vegan or vegetarian?
Potassium Nitrate (E252) 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 E252?
E252 appears in 8,398 of the 4.7 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in sausages, pork (general) and ham.
- Sausages2,057
- Pork (General)1,451
- Ham984
- Salami / Chorizo572
- Chorizo / Sausage554
- Prosciutto / Serrano392
- Bacon268
- Beef (General)226
Often appears alongside
Additives most frequently found in the same ingredient lists as E252 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 E252
- What is E252?
- E252 is the E-number for Potassium Nitrate, a preservative — used to extend shelf life by slowing spoilage from microbes. POTASSIUM NITRATE is a chemical compound with the chemical formula KNO3.
- What is E252 used for?
- Potassium Nitrate (E252) 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 E252?
- E252 appears in 8,398 of the 4.7 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in sausages, pork (general) and ham. Scan any barcode with the Forkin app to see instantly whether a specific product contains it.
- Is E252 vegan or vegetarian?
- Potassium Nitrate (E252) 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 E252 safe, and is it banned anywhere?
- E252 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 E252 — acceptable daily intake (ADI), restrictions by country, vegan/vegetarian status, alternative names, and which products in your scan history contain it. See view pricing.