Food additive · Preservative (sulfite)
Sodium metabisulfite
- E-number
- E223
A sulfite preservative and antioxidant used in dried fruit, wine and some dough.
- Food additive
- Preservative
- Expert review pending
Concern level
Strong evidence of harm at high intake, emerging evidence of harm, or a common allergen or irritant. The concern level sets how many points sodium metabisulfite costs on a product’s receipt.
What the evidence says
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Sulfite sensitivityRegulatory
Sulfites must be declared above 10 mg/kg in the EU and UK and at 10 ppm or more in the US because some people, especially people with asthma, react to them. [1][2][3]
Evidence tiers say how sure the evidence is, separately from how much it matters. About evidence tiers.
Rules around the world
| Where | Status | Details | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Union | Restricted | Permitted in listed foods; must be declared as an allergen above 10 mg/kg (as SO2). | — | [1] |
| United States | Permitted | Must be declared at 10 ppm or more (21 CFR 101.100(a)(4)). | — | [3] |
“Banned” means explicitly prohibited or withdrawn after review; “not permitted” means never authorized there. We use each regulator’s own words.
Popular products that list sodium metabisulfite
87 of the 17,000 most-scanned products in the US with a GoodSwap page list sodium metabisulfite. The 12 most scanned:
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Flour Tortillas La Banderita · 22.5 oz/640 g Score 49 out of 100 Okay -
Pita Bread Joseph's · 8 oz Score 39 out of 100 Poor -
Soft Taco Flour Tortillas La Banderita · 45 g Score 44 out of 100 Okay -
Burrito Grande Flour Tortillas La Banderita · 20 oz Score 48 out of 100 Okay -
Dried Mangoes Kirkland · 992 g Score 57 out of 100 Okay -
Xtreme Wellness! High Fiber Zero Net Carbs Tortilla Wraps Ole Mexican Foods · 336 g Score 51 out of 100 Okay -
High Fiber Tortilla Wraps ONE Mexican Foods · 15 oz Score 59 out of 100 Okay -
Soft Taco Flour Tortillas CarbCounter · 11.85 oz (336 g) Score 59 out of 100 Okay -
Dried Mango Tropical Fields · 35 oz Score 48 out of 100 Okay -
Balsamic Vinaigrette Skinnygirl · 8 fl oz (237 mL) Score 22 out of 100 Poor -
Dijon Originale Mustard Maille · 213 g Score 75 out of 100 Good -
Original Wheat Crackers Savoryz Score 41 out of 100 Okay
Diets and allergens
- Vegan
- Yes
- Vegetarian
- Yes
- Gluten-free
- Yes
- Allergen
- Sulphites
For the ingredient in general. Always check the package: a product’s own labels win.
Names GoodSwap recognizes on labels (15)
- e223
- sodium metabisulfite
- sodium meta bisulfite
- sodium metabisulphite
- antioxidant sodium metabisulfite
- antioxidant sodium metabisulphite
- preservative sodium metabisulfite
- sodium metabisulfite preservative
- antioxidants sodium metabisulphite
- preservative sodium metabisulphite
- preservatives sodium metabisulphite
- sodium metabisulfite as a preservative
- sodium metabisulfite to preserve color
- flour treatment agent sodium metabisulfite
- flour treatment agent sodium metabisulphite
Sources
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Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of 25 October 2011 on the provision of food information to consumers
“ANNEX II SUBSTANCES OR PRODUCTS CAUSING ALLERGIES OR INTOLERANCES 1. Cereals containing gluten, namely: wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt, kamut or their hybridised strains”
eur-lex.europa.eu
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“1. Cereals containing gluten, namely: wheat (such as spelt and khorasan wheat), rye, barley, oats or their hybridised strains, and products thereof”
legislation.gov.uk