E223 — Sodium metabisulphite
E223 (Sodium metabisulphite), a preservative, is rated "avoid": worth avoiding. The most common form of sulphite preservative in dried fruit, wine, and pickled foods. Asthma trigger in sulphite-sensitive people.
What is Sodium metabisulphite?
The most widely used sulphite preservative, especially in dried apricots, raisins, sultanas, wine, pickled vegetables, and prepared seafood.
What does it do to the body?
About 1% of people, especially asthmatics, get wheezing, tight chest, or other breathing reactions. Everyone else digests it into sulphate without issue. Dried fruit eaters can hit relatively high daily sulphite levels.
What regulators say
EFSA withdrew the temporary group acceptable daily intake in 2022 over data gaps. EU labels must declare sulphites above 10 mg per kg.
Risk rating: Avoid
Known or suspected to cause harm: a substance EFSA or another regulator has flagged, or one restricted in some jurisdictions. Best kept out of a regular diet.
Source: EFSA — follow-up on sulfites (2022) ↗