Curing agent, sodium nitrate

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the addition of nitrate and nitrite salts to fish products. Maximum permitted levels vary among products and types of fish, with up to 500 ppm residual sodium nitrate or 200 ppm sodium nitrite permitted as a preservative and color fixative in smoke cured sable fish, shad, or salmon (Code of Federal Regulations, 1981a,b Committee on Nittite and Alternative Curing Agents in Food, 1981). 

Sodium nitrate (1885) n. NaNOs. A deh-quescent crystalline salt used as an oxidizing agent, a fertihzer, and in curing meat. 

Sodium nitrate is a strong oxidizing agent that is used in such applications as rocket propellants. Sodium nitrate is a preservative for cured meats. It is also used in glass manufacturing, as a pyrotechnics additive, and in pharmaceuticals and dyeing. 

Use Oxidizing agent solid rocket propellants fertilizer flux glass manufacture pyrotechnics reagent refrigerant matches dynamites black powders manufacture of sodium salts and nitrates dyes pharmaceuticals an aphrodisiac color fixative and preservative in cured meats, fish, etc. enamel for pottery modifying burning properties of tobacco. 

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