Celery salt is a seasoned salt used as a food seasoning, made from ground seeds, which may come from celery[1] or its relative lovage.[2] It may also be produced using dried celery or seed oleoresin.[3][4]
Some brands of celery salt are very high in the preservative sodium nitrate.[citation needed] When added to foods, sodium nitrate forms small amounts of nitrosamines, a family of possible human carcinogens.[5] As a vegetable, celery seeds have potassium as the dominant ion over sodium (9 fold more). [6]
Uses
Celery salt is an ingredient of the Bloody Mary cocktail and the Caesar cocktail.[7] It is also commonly used to season the Chicago-style hot dog, the New York System wiener, salads, and stews. It can also be used to liven up a coleslaw. It is a primary ingredient in Old Bay brand seasoning.[8]
Celery salt is often used by food producers to prevent spoilage while avoiding listing sodium nitrate on the ingredients list directly.[9]
