Information › Allergies › Sulphite
Sulphite: what it is and where it is
Sulphite is a preservative (E220 to E228) that can cause breathing difficulty and skin complaints in sensitive people, especially those with asthma. It is not a true allergy but an intolerance; the labelling duty is the same.
At a glance
- Kind
- Legal allergen (EU)
- On the label
- In bold in the ingredient list
- Also as
- E220–E228, zwaveldioxide, natriummetabisulfiet, kaliummetabisulfiet, kaliumwaterstofsulfiet…
- Without sulphite
- 27.623 products
- Supermarkets
- AH, Jumbo, PLUS, Dirk and Hoogvliet
Recognise
On the label as
- E220–E228
- zwaveldioxide
- natriummetabisulfiet
- kaliummetabisulfiet
- kaliumwaterstofsulfiet
- natriumsulfiet
- natriumdisulfiet
- kaliumdisulfiet
- natriumbisulfiet
- kaliumbisulfiet
- natriumwaterstofsulfiet
- calciumsulfiet
- ‘Bevat sulfiet’ (contains sulphite) is mandatory above 10 mg/kg or 10 mg/l. Below that it need not be declared, so sulphite-free is almost never zero.
- E220 (sulphur dioxide) and E221–E228 are all sulphites.
- Wine, cider, dried fruit, pre-cut potato, shrimp, gherkins and some juices are sources.
Shopping
Examples without sulphite
- StreekSelecties Haring salade met rode bietStreekSelecties · 150 gPLUS € 2,25Bevat: Ei, Koemelk, Lactose, Melk, Mosterd, VisKan sporen bevatten: Glutenbevattende granen, Tarwe
- Jumbo Rundvlees Salade 600 gJumbo · 600 gJumbo € 2,89Bevat: Eieren, Gluten, Mosterd, Selderij, Soja, TarweKan sporen bevatten: Noten, Pinda's
- Mousline Aardappelpuree Zoete Aaardappel 125gMouslineJumbo € 2,99Bevat: Koemelk, Lactose, melk
- Cruse Selection chardonnayCruse · 750 mlDirk € 4,59Geen allergenen vermeld
- AH Biologisch RoerbakgarnalenAH Biologisch · 125 gAlbert Heijn € 4,39Bevat: Schaaldieren
- AH Noordse garnalenAH · 100 gAlbert Heijn € 3,99Bevat: Schaaldieren
All 27.623 products without sulphite
What to look out for in the shop
- Wine almost always says ‘bevat sulfiet’; ‘zonder toegevoegd sulfiet’ means only natural sulphite from fermentation is in it.
- The filter here looks at the allergen declaration and at E220–E228 in the ingredient text.
Good to know
Recently with sulphite in the recipe (8)These products recently took sulphite onto their label: the recipe changed. This is exactly where reading the label matters most.
Cross-contamination and “may contain traces”Sulphite only has to be declared above 10 mg per kilo or litre; below that it can still be present.
Sulphite only has to be declared above 10 mg per kilo or litre; below that it can still be present. ‘No added sulphite’ does not mean sulphite-free: in wine sulphite also forms during fermentation.
Symptoms and when to see a doctorSulphite mainly affects people with asthma: breathing difficulty, wheezing, sometimes hives or stomach ache, usually within half an hour.
Short of breath, a swelling tongue or throat, or dizzy after eating? Use the adrenaline auto-injector if one has been prescribed and call 112 straight away. Even if it then seems to get better.
Sulphite mainly affects people with asthma: breathing difficulty, wheezing, sometimes hives or stomach ache, usually within half an hour. It is an intolerance, not a classic allergy.
Which E numbers are sulphite?
E220 to E228: sulphur dioxide, sodium sulphite, sodium bisulphite, sodium metabisulphite, potassium metabisulphite, calcium sulphite, calcium bisulphite, potassium bisulphite.
Is there sulphite in all wine?
Almost all wine contains sulphite, organic and ‘natural’ wine included. Red wine usually contains less than white and sweet wine.
Is there sulphite in dried fruit?
In light-coloured dried fruit (apricots, apple) often, as a preservative. Dark dried fruit without sulphite exists; look for E220–E228.
What this site does and does not do
We read the ingredient list and the allergen declaration as the supermarket publishes them, and hide every product that contains the allergen. Products without allergen information are hidden by default too: unknown is not the same as safe. What we cannot do is read the pack in the shop. Recipes change, and the information here can lag behind. When in doubt the label in your hand decides, and for questions about your health your doctor or dietitian.
Other allergens
Sources
- Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex II: the fourteen allergens that must be on the label.
- The ingredient lists and allergen declarations of Albert Heijn, Jumbo, PLUS, Dirk and Hoogvliet, re-read every week.
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