Common food preservative sodium nitrite linked to rise in youth suicide deaths in UK
A new UK study has found a link between sodium nitrite, a widely used food preservative, and a rising number of suicide deaths, particularly among young people and men. Researchers are calling for urgent restrictions on access to the chemical and on harmful online information.
A study published in the journal BMJ Public Health points to a possible connection between sodium nitrite, a chemical commonly used to preserve food, and a growing number of suicide deaths in the UK. Suicide rates in the country had generally been falling since the early 1990s, but recent data suggest they may be rising again.
Researchers analyzed records from 2019 to 2024 gathered by the UK's main laboratory responsible for postmortem testing of nitrite and its metabolite nitrate. Out of 274 samples submitted, 201 suspected poisoning cases were identified across the UK, Ireland, and Gibraltar. Coroners approved the use of 164 of these cases, or 82%, for the final analysis.
Young people and men most affected
The average age of those affected was 28, and nearly three-quarters (71%) of cases involved younger generations — Gen Z accounted for 33% and Millennials for 38%, including 4% who were minors. Men significantly outnumbered women among the cases, 109 to 52, and made up the majority in almost every age group.
Blood tests showed that in 87% of cases, nitrite and nitrate levels were about 100 times higher than what would normally occur physiologically, which researchers say points to intentional ingestion.
Limitations and proposed measures
The researchers caution that the true number of cases is likely higher, since nitrite testing is not routinely carried out in every suspected suicide. They note that greater digital literacy among younger people may make it easier for them to find harmful online material about obtaining and using the chemical, sometimes shared under the guise of mental health support.
Lead researcher Professor Amrita Ahluwalia said the findings make clear that urgent steps are needed to regulate access to sodium nitrite and curb the spread of harmful information online. The researchers also suggested that equipping ambulances with antidote kits could help prevent fatal outcomes from poisoning.
