What Are Sulfites & Why Are They In My Food?
by Shereen Jegtvig
Sulfites are sulfur-containing compounds that may occur naturally in some foods, like wine or grape juice and are sometimes added to processed foods to enhance flavor and to preserve freshness. Sulfites aren’t dangerous to most people but the US Food and Drug Administration estimates about 1 person in 100 is sensitive to sulfites and can suffer an allergic reaction. And the FDA also estimates 5% of asthmatics are allergic to sulfites.
Several things are not understood about sulfite sensitivities, like how much sulfite is enough to cause a reaction and even by what mechanisms the reactions occur. They may occur after eating foods that contain sulfites or maybe even from breathing any fumes that emanate from those foods. Sulfite sensitivities may occur at any point in a person’s life and reactions can be mild, such as a rash or hives, or severe enough to trigger an asthma attack.
Sulfite allergies can be difficult to diagnose because skin tests aren’t accurate and physicians need to base their diagnoses on a patient’s history of eating foods that contain sulfites (and most people do). There are no treatments to block sulfite allergies and severe reactions may require the use of epinephrine, or asthma inhalers to reduce the symptoms.
Where You’ll Find Sulfites and Where You Won’t
Sulfites are useful because they slow down bacterial growth on foods, condition dough and prevent browning of shrimp and sliced vegetables and fruit.
The largest concentrations of sulfites are found in wine, bottled lemon or lime juice, dried apricots, molasses, grape juice and sauerkraut. Processed foods like premade gravies and sauces, canned vegetables, condiments, frozen shrimp, dehydrated potatoes, pickled foods, jams and trail mix may contain varying amounts of sulfites. Fresh fruits and vegetables that are meant to be eaten raw do not contain any sulfites.
Fortunately, the FDA requires food manufacturers to list sulfites on the ingredients lists, but you need to know what to look for. If you see any of the following ingredients, you know there are sulfites present:
• Sulfur dioxide
• Potassium metabisulfite
• Potassium bisulfate
• Sodium bisulfate
• Sodium metabisulfite
• Sodium sulfite
You can hunt for sulfites when you use the FoodEssentials tool. For example, let’s take a look at canned beef:
Four of the Armour brands may contain sulfites, mostly due to the addition of wine, vinegar, or corn starch, however two brands of Armour canned beef should be free from sulfites.
Here are a few more examples:
White Breads and Sulfites
Sparkling Fruit Juice and Sulfites
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