What is E221?
Sodium sulphite — a sulphite preservative and antioxidant in the E220–E228 group, used in dried fruit, wine and other foods, with the same declaration rules and hypersensitivity notes as other sulphites.
Sodium sulphite (E221) is a sulphite used as a preservative and antioxidant (for example to limit browning) in dried fruit, wine, potato products and other foods. It is assessed with the wider sulphite group (E220–E228). It is permitted in Australia/NZ, the EU and the US within set limits, and must usually be declared when present at 10 milligrams per kilogram or more. EFSA's 2022 follow-up withdrew the temporary group Acceptable Daily Intake for sulphur dioxide–sulphites because toxicity data remained inadequate, and instead used a margin-of-exposure approach that raised a safety concern for high consumers in most population groups. Regulators and allergy bodies have long noted that sulphites may be associated with asthma-like symptoms in some sensitive individuals. Goodnessly rates it Avoid.
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What is sodium sulphite?
Sodium sulphite (E221) is the sodium salt of sulphurous acid. It is an inorganic sulphite preservative and antioxidant. It belongs to the wider sulphite group that also includes sulphur dioxide (220), sodium bisulphite (222), sodium metabisulphite (223), potassium metabisulphite (224) and related salts (226–228). Sulphites can also occur naturally in some foods; the additive form is added deliberately for preservation or anti-browning. On labels you may see "sodium sulphite", "sodium sulfite" (US spelling), "221", or the class name "preservative" / "antioxidant" with the number.
What's it used for?
- Preserving dried fruit and limiting browning in dried fruit and vegetables
- Used in wine, beer and other fermented drinks as part of sulphite management
- Limiting spoilage and browning in some potato products and processed vegetables
- Used in selected fruit juices, cordials and other permitted processed foods
Where you'll find E221 on the shelf
Like other sulphites, it turns up in dried fruit, wine and some processed foods — always check the ingredients list if you are sulphite-sensitive.
Is sodium sulphite safe? What the research says
Sodium sulphite is regulated as part of the sulphur dioxide–sulphites group. Major markets still permit it within limits and require declaration at or above 10 mg/kg, while EFSA's latest group assessment withdrew the temporary ADI and flagged a safety concern for high consumers. Sulphites have long been associated in clinical and regulatory literature with adverse reactions in some people with asthma — an association that is still incompletely quantified.
| Region | Status | What this means |
|---|---|---|
| AU/NZ Australia & New Zealand (FSANZ) | Permitted; declare ≥10 mg/kg | Permitted under the Food Standards Code for specified foods at maximum levels (often expressed as sulphur dioxide equivalents). Added sulphites must be declared when present at 10 milligrams per kilogram (10 mg/kg) or more. FSANZ and Australian allergy guidance note that sulphite sensitivity is more common among people with asthma. |
| EU European Union (EFSA) | Permitted; ADI withdrawn 2022 | Authorised as E221 within the E220–E228 group. EFSA's 2016 re-evaluation set a temporary group ADI of 0.7 milligrams of SO₂ equivalents per kilogram of body weight per day. The 2022 follow-up withdrew that temporary ADI because the toxicity database remained inadequate, applied a margin-of-exposure approach (reference point 38 mg SO₂ equivalents/kg bw/day; assessment factor 80), and concluded this raises a safety concern for estimated dietary exposures in both refined and maximum-permitted-level scenarios for most population groups. EFSA also restated the need to further investigate hypersensitivity among some sensitive consumers. |
| US United States (FDA) | GRAS; declare ≥10 ppm | Sodium sulfite is listed as generally recognized as safe under 21 CFR 182.3798 when used in accordance with good manufacturing practice, with carve-outs including meats, foods recognised as a source of vitamin B1, and fruits or vegetables intended to be served or sold raw/fresh. Sulfiting agents must generally be declared when present at 10 parts per million (10 mg/kg) or more; functional sulfites must be declared regardless of level. |
Wording matters here: regulators describe sulphite-related breathing difficulties in some sensitive people — particularly some people with asthma — as a recognised hypersensitivity concern, not as proof that sodium sulphite will cause asthma in the general population. Prevalence estimates vary; ASCIA and similar bodies advise sulphite-sensitive individuals to read labels carefully.
- EFSA 2022 follow-up (group E220–E228): withdrew the temporary group ADI; used a margin-of-exposure approach and concluded estimated intakes raise a safety concern for high consumers in all population groups except adolescents (refined scenario). Sodium sulphite (E221) is included in that group assessment.
- Hypersensitivity data gaps: EFSA restated its recommendation to further investigate hypersensitivity or intolerance among some sensitive consumers, because knowledge gaps remain.
- Label thresholds unchanged: AU/NZ and US still generally require sulphite declaration at or above 10 mg/kg (10 ppm), so the practical shopping cue on dried fruit and wine labels remains the same.
This section is checked periodically rather than continuously — if you're reading this well after the date above, it's worth confirming nothing has changed before citing it.
Who might want to limit or avoid it
- People with asthma or a known sulphite sensitivity, given longstanding clinical and regulatory notes that sulphites may be associated with wheezing or other reactions in some sensitive individuals
- High consumers of dried fruit, wine or other sulphited foods, given EFSA's 2022 finding that estimated intakes raise a safety concern for high consumers in most age groups
- Anyone who prefers to minimise preservative sulphites and can choose unsulphited dried fruit or lower-sulphite wine options where available
Goodnessly rates E221 Avoid. Sodium sulphite remains permitted within set limits in Australia/NZ, the EU and the US, but EFSA's 2022 withdrawal of the temporary group ADI for E220–E228, the margin-of-exposure concern for high consumers, and the well-recognised association between sulphites and adverse reactions in some sensitive people — including some people with asthma — place it in our highest-caution category.
How to spot it on a label
E221 and related sulphites must usually be declared when at or above 10 mg/kg. Look out for:
- Sodium sulphite / sodium sulfite
- 221 or E221
- Preservative (221) or antioxidant (221)
- Other sulphites: 220, 222–228 (sulphur dioxide and related sulphite salts)
Especially common alongside other sulphites on dried fruit, wine and some potato-product labels.
Related additives
Frequently asked questions
What is Sodium sulphite (E221) made from?
Sodium sulphite is an inorganic salt (the sodium salt of sulphurous acid) manufactured for use as a food preservative and antioxidant. In food it belongs to the sulphite group (E220–E228). Small amounts of sulphites can also occur naturally in some foods.
Is sodium sulphite the same as sulphur dioxide?
They are related but not identical. Sulphur dioxide is E220; sodium sulphite is E221. Both are assessed together in the EFSA sulphite group (E220–E228), and residual sulphite on labels is often expressed as sulphur dioxide equivalents. Check the number or full name on the ingredients list.
Can sodium sulphite affect people with asthma?
Sulphites have long been associated in clinical and regulatory literature with adverse reactions — including asthma-like symptoms such as wheezing — in some sensitive individuals, and sensitivity appears more common among people who already have asthma. That is an association for a sensitive subgroup, not evidence that sodium sulphite causes asthma in the general population. If you have asthma or a known sulphite sensitivity, check labels and follow clinical advice.
Does Goodnessly rate E221 as safe, caution or avoid?
Goodnessly rates E221 (Sodium sulphite) as Avoid. It remains permitted within set limits, but EFSA's 2022 group ADI withdrawal and high-consumer concern, plus the recognised association with reactions in some sulphite-sensitive people, place it in our highest-caution category.
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