Sodium Bisulphite
The short version
The sodium bisulfite salt — a common solid sulfite source that releases SO2 on contact with acid.
A sulfite. Sulfites can set off asthma and allergic reactions in sensitive people and must be declared above 10 mg/kg, and in 2022 EFSA withdrew its temporary ADI and found that estimated dietary exposure raises a safety concern. That's why we flag it.
Safety profile
JECFA's group ADI for sulfur dioxide and sulfites is 0–0.7 mg/kg body weight, expressed as SO2 (1998). In 2022 EFSA withdrew its temporary group ADI of 0.7 mg SO2/kg body weight per day, finding the toxicity data inadequate to derive an ADI, and concluded that estimated dietary exposure raises a safety concern. Same allergen concerns as all sulfite-class additives — asthma trigger, anaphylaxis risk, thiamine destruction. Mandatory allergen labelling above 10 mg/kg SO2.
Sources
- EFSA FAF Panel — Follow-up of the re-evaluation of sulfur dioxide (E 220) and sulfites including sodium bisulfite (E 222), EFSA Journal 20(11):e07594 (2022), doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2022.7594 — European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), 2022. ADI status; safety concern at current exposure
- JECFA evaluation summary — Sodium hydrogen sulfite / sodium bisulfite (INS 222), group ADI 0–0.7 mg/kg bw (1998) — WHO/IPCS INCHEM (JECFA), 1998. JECFA group ADI 0–0.7 mg/kg bw as SO2
- 21 CFR 182.3739 — Sodium bisulfite (GRAS, with use restrictions) — US eCFR (Office of the Federal Register / FDA), 2026. US status and restrictions
- 21 CFR 101.100 — Food; exemptions from labeling (sulfiting agents at 10 ppm or more) — US eCFR (Office of the Federal Register / FDA), 2026. US mandatory declaration of sulfites
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