Information › Ingredients › Nitrite and nitrate
Nitrite and nitrate: E249 to E252 on a Dutch label
Updated on 4 November 2026
At a glance
- Kind
- Ingredient, not an allergen
- Also as
- nitriet, nitraat, natriumnitriet, kaliumnitriet, E249…
- Without nitrite and nitrate
- 39,033 products
- Contain it
- 2,891 products
- Supermarkets
- AH, Jumbo, PLUS, Dirk and Hoogvliet
What are nitrite and nitrate?
Nitrite and nitrate (E249 to E252) keep cured meat red and slow down bacteria. They are mostly in sausage, ham, bacon and smoked beef.
Recognise
On a Dutch label as
- nitriet
- nitraat
- natriumnitriet
- kaliumnitriet
- E249
- E250
- E251
- E252
May also be it
- celery powder or extract (naturally rich in nitrate)
We look for these Dutch words in the ingredient list itself, also between brackets. If in doubt, read the pack.
Shopping
Per shelf where nitrite and nitrate are common (the shops’ own Dutch shelf names)
Examples without nitrite and nitrate
- Argeta Kip spreadArgeta · 95 gDirk € 1,65Albert Heijn € 1,69Jumbo € 1,69Hoogvliet € 1,69PLUS € 1,69Contains: Cow's milk, Lactose, Milk, SoyMay contain traces: Egg
- Beemster Jong 30+ plakkenBeemster · 150 gDirk € 1,99Hoogvliet € 2,94Albert Heijn € 2,99Jumbo € 2,99PLUS € 2,99Contains: Cow's milk, Lactose, Milk
- Grand'Italia Pesto alla genoveseGrand'Italia · 185 gDirk € 2,59Hoogvliet € 2,59Albert Heijn € 2,79 2e ½Jumbo € 2,79PLUS € 2,79Contains: Almond, Cow's milk, Egg, Lactose, Milk, Tree nutsMay contain traces: Brazil nut, Cashew, Hazelnut, Macadamia, Pecan, Pistachio, Walnut
- Beemster Belegen 30+ plakkenBeemster · 150 gDirk € 1,99Hoogvliet € 3,35Albert Heijn € 3,39Jumbo € 3,39PLUS € 3,39Contains: Cow's milk, Lactose, Milk
- Iglo Gegrilde kipfilet ping & klaar met rosti en sperziebonenIglo · 390 gDirk € 5,99Hoogvliet € 5,99Albert Heijn € 6,29 1+1Jumbo € 6,29PLUS € 6,29Contains: Cow's milk, Lactose, Milk
- Iglo Roerbaksensatie kip teriyakiIglo · 450 gDirk € 5,49Hoogvliet € 5,49Albert Heijn € 6,09 1+1Jumbo € 6,09PLUS € 6,09Contains: Gluten, Soy, Wheat
All 39,033 products without nitrite and nitrate (in Dutch)
Which supermarket has the most without?
On the shelves where nitrite and nitrate are common: the share of products without it.
- Albert Heijn75%121 of 161
- PLUS62%210 of 337
- Hoogvliet54%175 of 323
- Jumbo54%107 of 200
- Dirk45%148 of 332
Brands without nitrite and nitrate
On the shelves where nitrite and nitrate are common, none of their products names it.
What to look for in the shop
- Read the ingredient list: it is there by its Dutch name or its E number, the same in every language.
- Watch compound ingredients between brackets: it is sometimes in there.
Good to know
Recently without nitrite and nitrate (8)These products named nitrite and nitrate on an earlier label, and no longer do.
What are nitrite and nitrate mostly in?Most often in the shelves ‘Vleeswaren’ (78% contains it), ‘Vleesconserven’ (73% contains it) and ‘Tapas’ (40% contains it).
Most often in the shelves ‘Vleeswaren’ (78% contains it), ‘Vleesconserven’ (73% contains it) and ‘Tapas’ (40% contains it). There is choice without it there too: 22 products on ‘Vleeswaren’, for example.
How do nitrite and nitrate read on a Dutch label?As nitriet, nitraat, natriumnitriet, kaliumnitriet, E249, E250, E251 and E252.
As nitriet, nitraat, natriumnitriet, kaliumnitriet, E249, E250, E251 and E252. We look for those words in the ingredient list itself, also in compound ingredients between brackets.
How many products contain nitrite and nitrate?2,891 of the 41,924 products with an ingredient list, about 7%.
2,891 of the 41,924 products with an ingredient list, about 7%. The other 39,033 do not name it.
Which supermarket has the most products without nitrite and nitrate?On the shelves where nitrite and nitrate are common: Albert Heijn (75% without), PLUS (62% without), Hoogvliet (54% without), Jumbo (54% without) and Dirk (45% without).
On the shelves where nitrite and nitrate are common: Albert Heijn (75% without), PLUS (62% without), Hoogvliet (54% without), Jumbo (54% without) and Dirk (45% without).
A choice of your own, not an allergy
Nitrite and nitrate are not an allergen: whether you eat or use them is up to you. We show what the ingredient list says, so you can choose. Recipes change: if in doubt, the pack in your hand decides.
More ingredients under Ingredients; allergens under Allergies.
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