le Daily Intake (ADI) established for these additives. Purity criteria have also been established for nitrates and nitrites via Directive 2008/84/EC as amended.
Two main nitrite and nitrate salt forms are allowed. These are sodium and potassium nitrite and sodium and potassium nitrate. These substances have been attributed E numbers (E250, E249, E 251 and E 252 respectively). In accordance with EU legislation, nitrates and nitrites are permitted for use in foods such as cheese, raw and processed meats, processed fish and foie gras and may only be sold in a mixture with salt or a salt substitute when labelled for food use. This is designed to limit the amount of nitrite that can be added and to prevent accidental poisoning through the addition of excessive quantities of nitrite to food.
For further Information see our FAQ on nitrites and nitrates
What is the law regarding the labelling of nitrites/nitrates?
Foodstuffs containing nitrites/nitrates must comply with both the general labelling provisions for food as laid down in Council Directive 2000/13/EC as amended and with the more specific labelling requirements for food additives as laid down in chapter IV of Regulation 1333/2008/EC on food additives. Directive 2000/13/EC requires the labelling of additives in the list of ingredients on pre-packaged foodstuffs by:
a) the functional class of the additive and
b) the specific name or designated E number
Therefore for sodium/potassium nitrite, the following should appear on the label:
- Preservative: Sodium nitrite, Potassium nitrite or
- Preservative: E250, E249
The same rules apply to the use of sodium or potassium nitrate in foods.
What must I consider if I want to remove nitrite/nitrate from my meat products?
If you are thinking of removing nitrite/nitrate from your meat product then you have a responsibility to ensure that the reformulated meat product is safe during its whole shelf life under reasonable conditions of consumer misuse. You must also ensure that the new product is in compliance with the laws governing additive usage and the laws governing food labelling. Overall, your label must not mislead the consumer to the extent that they buy your product in preference to similar products. Finally you must be able to provide all necessary evidence demanded by the competent authorities who are charged with ensuring compliance with the food law.
Can I use ingredients that are also sources of nitrite/nitrate to replace sodium or potassium nitrite/nitrate?
You cannot use ingredients that are also a source of nitrite/nitrate if used for the intended technological purpose of preservation or colouring in the final food. Such use would be considered a deliberate use of a food additive.
The use of nitrates and nitrites must comply with the food additives legislation, including the conditions of use laid down in Annex III part C to Directive 95/2/EC as amended as well as the purity criteria in Annex I to Commission Directive 2008/84/EC. The use of ingredients that are also sources of nitrite/nitrate, such as vegetable extracts or fermented vegetable broths, has been discussed on a number of occasions at the Commission working party on food additives and also at the EU Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health. On these occasions it was agreed by the Commission and all Member States, that such a practice would be a deliberate use of a food additive if used for the intended technological purpose of preservation or colouring in the final food.
Nitrites added to food for preservation or colouring purposes, via other ingredients like vegetable extracts/fermented broths would not currently be permitted by Directive 95/2/EC as these extracts have not been approved as preservatives and their use would also not comply with the current purity criteria laid down in Directive 2008/84/EC.
Further information on these two standing committee decisions can be found at the following links:
http://ec.europa.eu/food/committees/regulatory/scfcah/toxic/summary23_en.pdf agenda item 4
http://ec.europa.eu/food/committees/regulatory/scfc