E222Antioxidant · Preservative
Sodium bisulphite
What the research shows
PrototypeNot enough
published research on this page yet
1 health finding on this page so far · See the findings
Used in food as an antioxidant or preservative.
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- EU permitted
What research says
Animal and lab studies only
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Concern
Gut inflammation1
In lab and animal studies, sodium bisulphite raised gut inflammation, and vitamin B6 seemed to reduce it.
The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least two findings in people. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.
Regulatory status
Checked Sep 2026-
United States Permitted FDA 21 CFR 182.3739
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European Union Permitted EUR-Lex Reg. (EC) 1333/2008
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United Kingdom Permitted FSA retained EU law
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Canada Permitted Health Canada · Preservatives
Status reflects the named register on the date checked. It is not a safety rating.
How we checkProducts
The 6 most-scanned of 1,764 products on Open Food Facts that list sodium bisulphite.
- Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce Huy Fong Foods · 482 g 4 additives
- SRIRACHA HOT CHILI SAUCE Huy Fong Foods · 793 g 2 additives
- Blackcurrant Squash Ribena · 850 ml 7 additives
- Ribena Hitachino · 1.5 L 6 additives
- Buttery Homestyle Mashed Potatoes Idahoan · 1.36 kg 4 additives
- Hashbrown Potatoes Idaho Spuds · 119gx1 1 additive
References
- 1Wu W, Fu G, Xuan R, et al. Food additive sodium bisulfite induces intracellular imbalance of biothiols levels in NCM460 colonic cells to trigger intestinal inflammation in mice. Toxicol Lett. 2022;359:73-83. doi:10.1016/j.toxlet.2022.01.019