Sulfite sensitivities

One of the common food idiosyncrasies is sulfite sensitivity. Sulfites are preservatives used most commonly in wine and dried fruits and vegetables.

Sulfite is used as food additives in a variety of foods. Sulfites exist in several forms: sulfur dioxide, sodium metabisulfite, potassium, metabisulfite, sodium bisulfite, potassium bisulfite and sodium sulfite.

Sulfite sensitivity is an idiosyncratic reaction of undefined mechanism associated with the ingestion of sulfites in foods and medications. The symptoms associated with idiosyncratic reactions can be form trivial to life threatening.

People who are sensitive to sulfite can have such severe reactions that range from shortness of breath to fatal shock.

Very small amounts of sulfites can cause anaphylactic shock and bring in an asthma attack in sensitive people. The FDA requires that processed foods containing sulfites list sulfites in the ingredient label.
Sulfite sensitivities