Sulfur Dioxide
The question

Is Sulfur Dioxide safe in fruit juices?

CautionFruit juices

A sulfite preservative and antioxidant used to stop browning and spoilage in dried fruit, wine and juices. Safe for most people, but it triggers reactions in sulfite-sensitive individuals — especially asthmatics — which is why FDA mandates labeling at 10 ppm or more.

What the research flags

  • Sulfites including sulfur dioxide can provoke adverse reactions in sensitive individuals, especially asthmatics: reviews report roughly 3-10% of asthmatic patients react to ingested sulfites, with effects ranging from dermatitis, flushing, hypotension, abdominal pain and diarrhea to, rarely, life-threatening asthmatic and anaphylactic reactions (Vally & Misso; Vally et al.)
  • Because of these sensitivity reactions, FDA requires sulfiting agents present at 10 ppm or more in a finished food to be declared on the label (21 CFR 101.100), and prohibits their use on fruits and vegetables intended to be sold or served raw
  • EFSA's 2016 re-evaluation set only a temporary group ADI of 0.7 mg SO2 equivalents/kg body weight per day; in 2022 EFSA withdrew even that temporary ADI, concluding the available toxicity database was inadequate to establish a safe intake level

Regulatory
IARC Class: NL

Other fruit juices ingredients on file

Sources & references

  1. [1]
    Peer-reviewedPubMed / NCBI — pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov · ref 24834193
  2. [2]
    Peer-reviewedPubMed / NCBI — pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov · ref 19775253
  3. [3]
    RegulatoryInternational regulator — efsa.europa.eu · ref 4438
  4. [4]
    RegulatoryGovernment agency — section-101.100

Research disclaimer: Ratings reflect peer-reviewed research and regulatory assessments available at the time of publication, not the dose or formulation of any specific fruit juices product. This is not medical advice.