What E220 actually is
Sulphites stop browning, kill unwanted yeast and bacteria, and preserve colour. They are why dried apricots can be bright orange rather than brown, and why wine keeps for years. Winemaking has used them since Roman times, and no effective substitute has replaced them.
What it is made from
Produced industrially by burning sulphur or from mineral sources. Small amounts also arise naturally during fermentation, which is why even a no added sulphites wine still contains some.
Vegan, vegetarian, and halal status
Sulphites are mineral-derived with no animal input, so they suit every dietary requirement. Wine itself is a separate question for halal shoppers, and some wines are also clarified with animal-derived finings such as gelatine or isinglass, which is a different issue from the sulphites.
Is E220 safe?
This is one of the few additives with a genuine, well-documented adverse reaction in a defined group. Roughly 3 to 10 percent of people with asthma react to sulphites, sometimes with serious bronchospasm. That is precisely why the EU, UK, US, and Australia all require sulphites to be declared as an allergen above 10 mg per kg, alongside nuts and milk. For everyone else there is no established concern, and EFSA set an acceptable daily intake of 0.7 mg per kg of body weight per day.
- Bronchospasm in a minority of people with asthma, occasionally severe
- Declared allergen above 10 mg per kg in the EU, UK, US, and Australia
- The red wine headache is more likely driven by histamines, tannins, and alcohol than by sulphites, since white wine usually contains more sulphite
- Destroys thiamine (vitamin B1) in food
Where regulators stand
- EFSA (EU)
- Re-evaluated in 2016. Acceptable daily intake of 0.7 mg per kg of body weight per day. Mandatory allergen declaration above 10 mg/kg.
- FDA (US)
- Permitted, with mandatory declaration above 10 ppm. Banned on fresh fruit and vegetables sold raw since 1986.
Foods it turns up in
- Wine, beer, and cider
- Dried apricots, raisins, and other dried fruit
- Prepared potato products and chips
- Prawns and shrimp
- Bottled lemon juice and fruit concentrates
Names it hides behind
- E220 sulphur dioxide
- E221 sodium sulphite
- E223 sodium metabisulphite
- E224 potassium metabisulphite
- Contains sulphites or contains sulfur dioxide
Common questions
- Do sulphites cause the red wine headache?
- Probably not. White wine typically contains more sulphite than red, yet the headache is associated with red. Histamines, tannins, and alcohol itself are more likely explanations.
- Why are sulphites declared as an allergen?
- Because a minority of people with asthma get bronchospasm from them, sometimes seriously. Above 10 mg per kg the declaration is mandatory in the EU, UK, US, and Australia.
- Are sulphites vegan and halal?
- Yes, the additive itself is mineral-derived. Wine raises separate questions, including animal-derived finings, which are a different matter from sulphites.
- Does no added sulphites mean sulphite-free?
- No. Fermentation produces small amounts naturally, so wine labelled with no added sulphites still contains some.
- Why is dried fruit so bright?
- Sulphites prevent the browning reaction. Unsulphured dried apricots are brown, which is what they look like without the treatment.
Checking a real pack
This page answers the code. The pack in your hand is what decides, because the same code can come from different sources depending on the manufacturer. LabelWise, formerly SafeChoice, scans the label and explains what is in front of you.
LabelWise content is educational and describes how additives are made, regulated, and labelled. It is not medical, dietary, or religious advice. For certification questions, the mark on the pack and the certifying body are the authority.