E251 Sodium nitrate — is it halal?

Ruling: Mashbuh (doubtful)

Description

Sodium nitrate is an inorganic salt. Two routes: natural Chilean saltpetre (leaching of caliche; per EFSA, the majority of world production) and synthesis (nitric-acid off-gases + alkali; nitrite + nitric acid; NaOH + HNO3). The BASF food grade is synthetic. Possible links, all from Chinese and Korean patents: ethanol as antisolvent and wash in crystallisation (c4) and methanol as antisolvent (c5)

Basis of the ruling

Sodium nitrate is an inorganic salt: natural Chilean saltpetre or a synthesis from nitric acid and alkali. Chinese patents use ethanol of unnamed source for crystallising and washing the nitrate.

Names: Нитрат натрия · Sodium nitrate · نترات الصوديوم

Also known as: E 251, E-251, Е251, Е 251, INS 251, натриевая селитра, чилийская селитра, азотнокислый натрий, Chile saltpetre, Chile saltpeter, soda nitre, cubic nitre, solid sodium nitrate, liquid sodium nitrate, 硝酸钠

Category: Preservatives

Regulatory source: EU 1333/2008

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