OTHER SOURCES OF SULFITES
Food processing equipment and food packaging materials (e.g. plastic bags) may be sanitized with sulfites. These sources of sulfites will not be listed on any labels.
Sulfite-sensitive individuals should avoid opening any packages likely to contain sulfites, especially sealed plastic bags containing dried fruits.
Note: Some food manufacturers publish extensive lists of their products in which they specify ingredients to which food-sensitive and food-additive sensitive consumers might react. People with sulfite sensitivity should obtain these publications if they wish to purchase manufactured foods such as cookies, breakfast cereals, boxed entrees, and so on.
Table Sulfites: examples of sources and uses of and europeane numbers
| Additive
Sulfur dioxide |
E Number
E220 |
Function
• Occurs naturally • May be produced chemically • Prevents browning by destroying plant enzymes |
Foods Likely to Contain Sulfite
Fruit juices Fruit pulp Fruit syrup Fruit salad Fruit spreads Packet soups Glace cherries Dried bananas and apricots Jams and jellies Desiccated coconut Beer Wine Cider Cider vinegar Candied peel Canned crabmeat Fruit-based milk and cream desserts Flavorings Fruit fillings Powdered garlic Gelatin Dry ginger root Glucose Soft drinks Frozen mushrooms Dehydrated vegetables and fruits Sausage meat |
| Sodium sulfite | E221 | • Used in food manufacturing to -Sterilize fermentation
equipment -Sterilize food containers - Used as a preservative to prevent browning especially of pre-peeled and sliced apples and potatoes -In some countries, used to control microorganisms such enterobacteria, especially Salmonella - Preservation of the red color of meat and shellfish - Manufacture of caramel |
Preserved egg yolk Quiick-frozen shrimp, prawns,
lobsters Beer Wine Concentrated pineapple juice |
| Sodium hydrogen sulfite | E222 | • Preservative for alcoholic beverages
• Bleaching of cod • Bleaching of sugar |
Beer
Wine Cider Quick-frozen shrimp, prawns, lobster Quick-frozen french fries Dehydrated instant mashed potatoes Fruit juices Vegetable juices Relishes and some condiments Gelatin-containing puddings Quck-frozen french fries |
| Sodium metabisulfite | E223 | • Antimicrobial preservative
• Antioxidant • Bleaching agent |
Soft drinks
Pickled onions Pickled red cabbage Packet mashed potatoes Quick-frozen shrimp, prawns, lobster Quick-frozen french fries Gelatin puddings Alcoholic beverages Dried fruits and nuts |
| Potassium metabisulfite | E224 | • Antimicrobial preservative, especially in fruit and homemade wine
• Used to halt fermentation process in commercial breweries • Anti-browning agent |
Quick-frozen shrimp, prawns, lobster
Wine Wine-making tablets (Campden tablets) |
| Calcium sulfite | E226 | • Preservative
• Firming agent in canned fruits and vegetables • Disinfectant in brewing vats |
Cider
Fruit juices Canned fruits and vegetables |
| Calcium bisulfite | E227 | • Preservative
• Prevents secondary fermentation in brewing • Used in washing beer casks to prevent the beer from becoming cloudy or sour • Firming agent in canned fruit and vegetables |
Beer
Jams Jellies Canned fruits and vegetables |
SULFITES AND THIAMINE (VITAMIN Bl)
When sulfur dioxide dissolves, the resulting disulfide chemical bonds break up certain protein molecules in food. Food spoilage is caused by enzymes present in natural foods (e.g., fruits and vegetables) that act on the plant tissue and cause its destruction; we see this as “browning” and eventual rotting of the food. The enzymes responsible for this process, like all enzymes, are proteins. Sulfites act on these proteins and destroy them, thus stopping this enzyme destruction of the healthy plant tissue. However, this action of sulfites also destroys some of the nutrient proteins in the plant or animal. One of the most important of these nutrient proteins is thiamine (vitamin Bl), which is particularly affected by sulfites. Therefore, government regulations require that sulfites not be used in high-protein foods that are a significant source of thiamine, especially meat of all types, cereals, and milk products.
Table Sulfites: examples of sources and uses of and europeane numbers provides details of the types of sulfites in common use, the terms under which they may appear on product labels in the United States and Canada, and the E numbers that indicate their presence in foods sold in European countries.
The Sulfite-Restricted Diet
Table gives you details of the foods allowed and restricted when you are following a sulfite-free diet.
Table The sulfite-restricted diet
| Type of Food | Foods Allowed | Foods Restricted |
| Milk and
Milk Products |
• Plain milk, buttermilk, cream,
sour cream, and yogurt • All plain cheese, cottage cheese, ricotta, Quark • Ice cream made with allowed ingredients • Butter |
• All prepared dairy products made with
restricted ingredients |
| Breads and
Cereals |
• Any pure flour or grain
• Any plain fresh bread, buns, biscuits, pizza dough, with allowed ingredients • Homemade or purchased baked cookies, pies, etc., made with allowed ingredients |
• Biscuit dough
• Frozen pizza dough • Frozen pastry shells • Any baked goods with dried or glace fruit, molasses, coconut, dehydrated vegetables, commercial frozen apple slices, or confectionery icing |
| • Breakfast cereals without
dried fruit or coconut, including - Puffed rice and wheat - Shreddies - Shredded Wheat - Corn flakes - Oats and oatmeal - Plain Cream of Wheat |
• All others, including granola and
muesli with dried fruit and/or coconut • Instant oatmeal and Cream of Wheat with dried fruit. |
|
| • All plain grains
• Plain crackers without sulfites • Plain pasta • All homemade crackers, cereals and pasta dishes with allowed ingredients |
• Commercial crackers and cereals
• All packaged pasta meals • All canned, frozen, and dried commercial pasta dishes |
|
| Vegetables | • All pure fresh and frozen
vegetables and their juices, except those listed at right |
• Dried vegetables
• Frozen sliced mushrooms • Processed sliced potatoes • Pickled vegetables • Tomato paste, pulp, puree • All prepared vegetables with restricted ingredients |
| Fruit | • All pure fresh or frozen fruit except those listed at right
• Frozen orange juice • All canned and bottled juices, except those listed at right • Check labels. |
• Grapes
• Commercial frozen apple slices • Dried and glace fruit • Maraschino cherries • All other frozen juices • Grape juice • Cider • Most bottled lime and lemon juice |
| Meat, Poultry,
and Fish |
• All unprocessed pure, fresh,
or frozen meat, poultry, or fish. • Fish canned with water, or with water and only salt • Freshly caught crab, crayfish, lobster, prawns, shrimp, and squid that has not had a sulfite wash • Processed meat made with allowed ingredients. |
• Processed with restricted ingredients
• Canned tuna with sulfites • All processed crustaceans • Processed meats with restricted ingredients • Gelatin |
| Eggs | • All | • Any prepared with restricted ingredients |
| Legumes | • All plain legumes
• Pure peanut butter |
• All others |
| Nuts and | • All plain nuts and seeds | • Any with restricted ingredients |
| Seeds
Fats and Oils |
• Pure butter and cream
• Shortening, margarine • Pure vegetable oils • Homemade salad dressings with allowed ingredients • Lard and meat drippings • Homemade gravy |
• All others |
| Spices and
Herbs |
• All fresh, frozen, or dried herbs
and spices. |
• All herb or spice mixes and seasoning
packets with restricted ingredients, such as dehydrated vegetables |
| Sweets and
Sweeteners |
• White sugar, honey
• Maple syrup, corn syrup • Icing sugar • Pure jams, jellies, marmalade, and conserves made without added pectin or gelatin and with allowed ingredients • Plain artificial sweeteners • Homemade sweets with allowed ingredients |
• Brown sugar, molasses
• Glucose solids and syrup • Dextrose (used in sweets) • Spreads with restricted ingredients • Commercial icing and frosting • Cake decorations and other confectionery • Commercial candies |
| Other | • Baking powder, baking soda,
• Cream of Tartar • Distilled white vinegar • Baking chocolate • Pure cocoa • Homemade pickles and relishes • Homemade ketchup with allowed ingredients |
• All other vinegars
• Chocolate candy, sprinkles, and syrup • Mincemeat • Prepared pickles and relishes • Commercial ketchup • Gelatin and pectin |
| Alcohol | • None | •All |
| Medications | • All without sulfites and dextrose
• Check with pharmacist. |
• All others |
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