Nitrogen
A perfectly safe, inert packaging gas.
- Category
- Packaging gases
- Vegan
- Yes
- Vegetarian
- Yes
What it is
An inert gas that makes up 78% of the Earth's atmosphere, used to flush oxygen out of food packaging.
How it is used in food
Displacing oxygen with nitrogen dramatically slows fat oxidation and mould growth, so foods stay fresh longer without any chemical preservative — the basis of modified-atmosphere packaging.
Commonly found in- Crisp/chip bags
- Coffee packaging
Health and safety
Completely inert and safe. It prevents food from spoiling by removing oxygen.
Packaging gases of this group have been evaluated with no safety concern identified and no ADI considered necessary.
Regulatory status
| Region | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Australia & New Zealand FSANZ |
Permitted | Permitted under the FSANZ Food Standards Code. |
| European Union EFSA / European Commission |
Not approved | Not on the EU authorised list of food additives (Annex II). |
| United States FDA (Food and Drug Administration) |
Permitted | Authorised for food use by the FDA (often GRAS for standard additives). |
Identification on labels
- E-number
- E931
Worth knowing
The air you breathe is already about 78% nitrogen; the 'puff' of air when opening a crisp packet is mostly nitrogen doing double duty as cushioning and preservative.
Conclusion
A perfectly safe, inert packaging gas.
Is it in what you are buying?
ScanWise reads the barcode and tells you which additives a product actually contains, and what they do to its score.
Open the appEntry last reviewed 2026-07-28.
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