Sodium Bisulfite E222
sulfite — Primarily synthetic.
Sodium hydrogen sulfite
CAS: 7631-90-5
Factual Regulatory Reference
This database provides factual regulatory information compiled from official government sources. It does not constitute medical, nutritional, or safety advice. Regulatory status varies by country and is subject to change. Always refer to your local regulatory authority for the most current information.
? Did You Know?
Beyond food, Sodium Bisulfite is also used in cosmetics, medicine, industrial applications, household products. Its versatility makes it one of the most multi-purpose chemical compounds in everyday life.
To reach the Acceptable Daily Intake limit, a 60kg adult would need to consume approximately ~2 glasses of wine (150ml at 150mg/L SO₂) in a single day. (This is a mathematical illustration, not a safety recommendation.)
Regulatory Analysis
The 1986 FDA emergency ban on sulfites in fresh produce -- triggered by documented deaths, primarily among asthmatics -- represents one of the rare instances where a food additive restriction was driven by acute, identifiable fatalities rather than chronic disease modeling. The continued universal approval for wine, dried fruit, and processed foods creates a two-tier regulatory framework where the same chemical is prohibited in one food context and permitted in another, governed not by toxicological principles but by whether alternative preservation methods exist. The 'temporary' group ADI established in 2016 for all sulfites (E220-E228) remains unfinalized, reflecting persistent uncertainty about whether the existing safety database adequately captures hypersensitivity risks in the asthmatic subpopulation.
Detailed Regulatory Assessment
European Union (EFSA)
MANDATORY allergen labeling required when total SO₂ ≥ 10 mg/kg or 10 mg/L. Maximum levels vary widely by food type. Temporary group ADI for E220-E228.
United States (FDA)
MANDATORY allergen declaration 'contains sulfites' required when ≥10 ppm SO₂. Banned from fresh fruits and vegetables intended to be eaten raw (since 1986).
Japan (MHLW)
Part of sulfite group; allergen labeling required
Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI)
International Standard (JECFA)
mg/kg body weight per day
European Standard (EFSA)
Everyday Perspective
For a 60kg adult, this limit is roughly equivalent to consuming:
Natural Occurrence
This additive is not known to occur naturally in significant quantities.
Manufacturing
Produced by passing sulfur dioxide (SO₂) gas through an aqueous solution of sodium carbonate or sodium hydroxide. The resulting solution contains a mixture of sodium bisulfite and sodium metabisulfite in equilibrium. Can also be made by treating sodium sulfite solution with additional sulfur dioxide.
Applications Beyond Food
Limited use in cosmetic products
Used in some pharmaceutical formulations as an antioxidant and stabilizer
Used in water treatment, textile processing, paper manufacturing, and as a reducing agent in chemical synthesis
Used in home brewing and wine-making