Hidden Sulfites

Are you at the point where you have been researching and discovered you are sensitive to sulfites but your symptoms are not going away? Maybe you feel better but still, have bad days with unknown triggers. Perhaps it’s time to search for hidden sulfites. Sulfites can be hidden as part of the process of making food or by being listed as various sulfite compounds. 

Part of the Process

If a manufacturer uses sulfites in the process to make a food or ingredient, it doesn’t have to be listed on the label. The most common example of this in our food today is High Fructose Corn Syrup. Start pulling snacks and beverages out of your fridge and pantry and you might be shocked at how many things might be making you sick.  

Food Coloring And Additives Are Notorious Hidden Sulfites

The other most common additives that I come across that contain sulfites in the process are Caramel color , Red #40, Yellow #5, gelatin, pectin, vinegar and dried spices such as garlic and onion powder.

It’s All About Numbers

If you have a sulfite intolerance, cutting out these additives and ingredients may make a world of difference. Remember, everyone’s tolerance level is different. How many ppm a person can tolerate may be different than the next person. A skittle or two, a little bit of ice cream with caramel color may be tolerable. While a whole glass of fruit punch (that may have food color and HFCS) would set symptoms off. Someone who is allergic to sulfites rather than intolerant like me, would not be able to tolerate any of these items, even in small quantities.

A few years ago I made a Thai dinner with a bottled coconut curry sauce. I began throwing up around 2 am and when I was done throwing up around 5 am, I pulled the bottle of the trash. Imagine my frustration and regret when I realized I missed that it contained Yellow #5 and some other additives that were questionable. The sauce was purchased from a popular ‘health food store’ and I hadn’t thought to examine the ingredient list. You live and you learn. Frankly, in terms of sulfites, I’ve lived and learned many many times but I am getting more astute and more diligent about knowing what to look out for.

There Are Options For Safe Eating

If you are sulfite intolerant like me, there are a lot of things you can not eat. The good news is that there are plenty of good options and the list is growing with the growing ‘clean eating’ culture. It’s like the saying ‘You have to know the rules before you can know how to break the rules’. Learning the things to avoid helps you focus on what you can have.

Internationally, I have found that many countries are stricter or stringent in the use of certain additives including sulfites. There are fewer hidden sulfites in some of these other countries. This may explain why the color of candy in other countries may look different than here in the U.S. For instance, compare Peanut M&M’s made in the U.S. to Peanut M&M’s made in England. They look and taste different. Peanut M&Ms are low glycemic which is good for my PCOS and insulin resistance. So when I get my hands on a pack of English Peanut M&M’s, I am in candy heaven. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the M&M’s from England are similar colors to some of the cookies at Panera. Panera is one of my favorite places to eat since they implemented the ‘No-No List’.  

If I am unsure if I can eat the food, I will discretely sniff the food before eating. Because one of my intolerance mechanisms is sensitivity in inhalation of the sulfur dioxide compound, I know to avoid the food or beverage if it irritates my nose.  

Here are some other names of sulfite containing compounds:

• Potassium bisulphite.
• Potassium metabisulphite.
• Sodium bisulphite, sodium dithionite, sodium metabisulphite, disodium sulphite, sulfite.
• Sulfur dioxide.
• Sulphiting agents.
• Sulphurous acid.
• E 220, E 221, E 222, E 223, E 224, E 225, E226, E227, E 228 (European names)

I am here to share but am forever learning.  I would love to hear any recommendations you have found to help minimize sulfite exposure.  Please leave a comment or email [email protected]