It is often placed there as a preservative.
Sulfites are a common additive in many foods and drugs. Sulfites also occur naturally in some foods. Unfortunately, 5%-10% of people with asthma are also allergic to sulfites. An allergy is an increased sensitivity to a specific substance (called an allergen). The combination of asthma and sulfites can be dangerous. As additives, sulfites do many things: 1  They can prevent spoilage and preserve foods -- and certain beverages -- by preventing the growth of mold and bacteria, for example. 2  They can stop fruits, vegetables, and seafood from discoloring. 3  They can maintain the strength of common medications -- including some asthma drugs. Sulfites or sulphites are compounds that contain the sulfite ion SO 3 2− . The sulfite ion is the conjugate base of bisulfite. Although its acid (sulfurous acid) is elusive, its salts are widely used. Sulfites are substances that naturally occur in some foods and the human body. Sulfites are counted among the top nine food allergens, but a reaction to sulfite is not a true allergy. Some people have positive skin allergy tests to sulfites indicating true (IgE-mediated) allergy. Sulfites occur naturally in some foods and beverages as a result of fermentation, such as in beer and wine. As a food additive, sulfites have been used since 1664 and have been approved for use in the United States since the 1800s (Lester, 1995).  Sulfites in foods are often placed there as a preservative. While most governments have banned the use of sulfites in foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, they are still commonly used to preserve dried fruits, wine making, and to preserve seafood and other meats. Although no foods have a high concentration of sulfites, when many of the above foods are combined and eaten regularly, some people can have moderate to severe reactions to the chemical. Overview. Many foods contain sulfites, which are inorganic salts, as a preservative. Sulfites prevent foods from browning, control the growth of micro-organisms and bleach certain food starches and cherries. Some people can develop a sensitivity to sulfites. If you are asthmatic, you have a greater chance of having a reaction to sulfite-containing foods. Since 1988, four national agencies have regulated the use of sulfites in drugs, food, meat, poultry, alcoholic beverages and grapes. A variety of fruits in many forms contain sulfites. These include canned and frozen fruits, fruit fillings, syrups, jams, jellies and preserves. Dried fruits, such as apricots, coconuts and raisins also contain sulfites, along with glazed fruits like maraschino cherries. Sulfites are used as a food preservative or enhancer. They may come in various forms, such as: 1  Sulfur dioxide, which is not a sulfite, but a closely related chemical oxide. 2  Potassium bisulfite or potassium metabisulfite. Sulfites are counted among the top nine food allergens, but a reaction to sulfite is not a true allergy. Some people have positive skin allergy tests to sulfites indicating true (IgE-mediated) allergy. Although sulfites are no longer used on most fresh foods, they still can be found in a variety of cooked and processed foods. They also occur naturally in the process of making wine and beer. Avoiding foods that contain or are likely to contain sulfites is the only way to prevent a reaction. A. Sulfites are a group of sulfur-based compounds that may occur naturally or may be added to food as an enhancer and preservative. The FDA estimates that one out of 100 people is sensitive to the compounds. A person can develop sensitivity to sulfites at any time in life, and the trigger for the sensitivity is unknow Sulfites are often used as preservatives in dried fruits, preserved radish, and dried potato products. Most beers no longer contain sulfites, although some alcoholic ciders contain them. Although shrimp are sometimes treated with sulfites on fishing vessels, the chemical may not appear on the label. Sulfites are counted among the top nine food allergens, but a reaction to sulfite is not a true allergy. Some people have positive skin allergy tests to sulfites indicating true (IgE-mediated) allergy. Sulfites are chemicals that are commonly used as preservatives for a range of different types of foods and beverages. For example, sulfites are often added to shellfish to prevent discoloring, processed foods to give them a longer shelf-life, and dehydrated fruits and veggies to preserve them. You can also find these chemicals in soft drinks and alcoholic beverages like beer and wine.
http://www.webmd.com/asthma/asthma-and-sulfites-allergies https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfite http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy731 http://www.sulfites.org/sulfite-foods/ http://livewell.jillianmichaels.com/list-foods-sulfites-5099.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfite http://www.webmd.com/allergies/guide/sulfite-sensitivity https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfite http://health.cvs.com/GetContent.aspx?token=f75979d3-9c7c-4b16-af56-3e122a3f19e3&chunkiid=644494
what is sulfites in food