Side-by-Side Comparison
Food Additives & E-Numbers
E250: Sodium Nitrite (Curing Salt / Anti-Botulism Preservative) vs. E951: Aspartame (Dipeptide Sweetener / 200x)
Comparing 2 standards across 14 specifications. 14 key differences identified.
Comparing:
E250: Sodium Nitrite (Curing Salt / Anti-Botulism Preservative)
E951: Aspartame (Dipeptide Sweetener / 200x)
Sodium nitrite (E250, NaNO2) is an inorganic salt used in cured charcuterie, bacon, and processed meats to inhibit Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin germination, fix cured pink nitrosyl-myoglobin color, and retard lipid autoxidation.
E951 (Aspartame) is a methyl ester of the aspartic acid/phenylalanine dipeptide yielding ~200x the sweetness of sucrose. INS 951, ADI is 40 mg/kg bw/day, the historic sweetener in Diet Coke and tabletop sweetener packets.
Specification Comparison Table
14 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Functional Class
|
Preservative / Color Retention Agent (Curing Salt) | High-Intensity Artificial Sweetener |
|
Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI)
|
0–0.07 mg/kg body weight per day (EFSA / JECFA) | 40 mg / kg body weight per day (US FDA: 50 mg/kg) |
|
INS / E-Number
|
INS 250 / E250 | — |
|
Chemical Formula
|
NaNO₂ (Molecular Weight: 68.995 g/mol) | — |
|
USDA Maximum Residual Level
|
156 ppm in cured meat / 200 ppm in dry cured ham / 120 ppm in bacon with ascorbate | — |
|
Botulism Inhibition Threshold
|
Inhibits Clostridium botulinum spore outgrowth at ≥50–100 mg/kg in presence of NaCl | — |
|
E-Number Code
|
— | E951 |
|
INS / Codex Number
|
— | INS 951 |
|
Relative Sweetness Index
|
— | 200x Sucrose |
|
Caloric Value
|
— | 4.0 kcal / g (Negligible at use levels / ~0.1 kcal per serving) kcal/g |
|
Primary Mechanism
|
— | Stimulates T1R2/T1R3 sweet taste receptors with clean, sugar-like taste profile |
|
Common Target Foods
|
— | Diet sodas, tabletop sweetener packets (Equal), sugar-free gelatin desserts, drink mixes |
|
Dietary Compliance
|
— | Vegetarian, Halal, Kosher, Contains Phenylalanine (Warning for PKU patients mandatory) |
|
Safety Approval
|
— | EFSA Authorized / FDA Approved (21 CFR 172.804) |
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