FOI reference: FOI-2025-2583
You asked
For the past decade, up to and including 3 February 2025, I'd like to know:
How many deaths were there where sodium nitrite poisoning was listed as the, or a, cause of death or was mentioned somewhere on the death certificate? Please break this down into how many deaths were caused by a) intentional poisoning (eg suicide) and b) unintentional poisoning.
Please break down each of the counts above - intentional and unintentional poisoning - into a further count for the sex of the deceased.
We said
Thank you for your request.
The requested information is exempt under Section 38(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA), as the release of this information would be likely to endanger the physical and mental health of individuals and therefore poses a risk to public safety.
Following consultation with the National Suicide Prevention Strategy Advisory Group (NSPSAG) and the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), who have commissioned us to produce work on this, we have determined that the release of this information poses a risk to suicidal individuals.
Our releasing this information would likely cause an increase in discussion, particularly on social media, around Sodium Nitrate as a method of suicide, as well as putting more information regarding its effectiveness into the public domain. This increases the likelihood of this information reaching suicidal individuals. We have been advised that suicide methods often spread in this way on online platforms.
Given how easily accessible this substance is at this time, we consider there to be a significant risk that an increase in awareness and effect of this substance would likely lead to an increase in its use as a method. Therefore, we believe there is a distinct causal link between the release of the number of deaths caused by this substance and an increase in suicides involving this substance.
This exemption is subject to a public interest test.
We acknowledge that there is public interest in this information, as the public have the right to be informed and contribute knowledgeably to discussions around the safety controls and policy around this substance.
However, this is outweighed by the more significant public interest in ensuring the safety of vulnerable individuals. The disclosure of this information into the public domain would likely actively jeopardise public safety by increasing awareness of this method and causing a subsequent increase in its use. Consequently, the public interest test falls in favour of withholding the requested information.
We understand and fully appreciate that this substance is a topic of concern. Should you wish to seek further information and reassurance that measures are being taken to tackle this issue, please contact health.data@ons.gov.uk for more information.