Sodium Metabisulfite

Preservatives

  • Potentially Harmful

Definition

Sodium Metabisulfite is a white powder preservative used in foods and pharmaceuticals. Sulphites are used to prevent the browning of foods, as bleaching agents, as dough conditioning agents, to prevent excess alkalinity of foods, as food processing aids, color stabilizers and antioxidants.

Also Known As

SODIUM METABISULPHITE

Health Impact

Many of the acute health effects include irritation to the nose, throat, and lungs which can cause coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Chronic health effects include asthma-like allergies, chest tightness, development of bronchitis (symptoms like cough, phlegm, and shortness of breath). Exposure to sulphites (commonly through consumption of food and drink) has been reported to induce clinical effects in sensitive individuals, ranging from dermatitis, urticaria, flushing, hypotension, abdominal pain and diarrhea to life-threatening anaphylactic and asthmatic reactions.

Sources