FDA Status
GRAS
Preservative · CAS 7681-57-4 · EU E223
Sodium Metabisulfite
FDA status: GRAS. EU: Approved. No U.S. state has enacted a specific ban yet.
3.0 / 5
Composite safety Mixed Evidence
Score 3 of 5
Sodium Metabisulfite: 3/5 (Mixed Evidence)
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Sodium Metabisulfite is classified GRAS by the FDA, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it independently of federal policy. Its composite safety score is 3 out of 5 (Mixed Evidence), and the European Union separately classifies it as approved. It is more widely-used than most tracked additives.
- 77th percentile by tracked product prevalence
The verdict
Sodium Metabisulfite is classified GRAS by the FDA, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it. It is more widely-used than most tracked additives (77th percentile by tracked product count).
- 3/5
- Mixed Evidence
- GRAS
- FDA status
- 77th pctile
- by product prevalence
- 0
- state regulations
Sodium Metabisulfite (E223), CAS 7681-57-4, is a preservative additive holding a composite safety score of 3 out of 5 (Mixed Evidence). According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Substances Added to Food inventory, it is currently classified as GRAS, while the European Union lists it as Approved. This ingredient appears in approximately 276 tracked food products across our database. It is most commonly used as Wine, dried fruits, shrimp.
No U.S. state has enacted specific legislation targeting Sodium Metabisulfite to date, keeping federal FDA classification as the operative standard. State-level food safety legislation remains active nationally, and that picture may shift as new bills advance.
Peer-reviewed research has flagged 1 distinct area of health concern for Sodium Metabisulfite, which factors directly into the assigned safety score. The European Food Safety Authority has published an evaluation dated 2016-04-14, with an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 0.7. EFSA has noted an overexposure risk classification of "high" for typical consumption patterns. All figures above draw on FDA SAFFA inventory records, EU food additive regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, EFSA scientific opinions where published, and legislative records from individual U.S. states.
Regulatory Snapshot
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FDA Status | GRAS | FDA SAFFA |
| EU Status | Approved | EC 1333/2008 |
| E-Number | E223 | EU additive register |
| CAS Number | 7681-57-4 | CAS Registry |
| Category | Preservative | FDA functional class |
| Composite Safety Score | 3 / 5 (Mixed Evidence) | PlainIngredients methodology |
| EFSA ADI | 0.7 | EFSA scientific opinion |
| U.S. State Actions | 0 states | State legislative records |
| Tracked Products | 276 | Open Food Facts (US) |
Values reflect official agency classifications as published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Union's regulatory framework. See our methodology for scoring details.
EU Status
Approved
E223
U.S. State Regulations
0 states
None enacted
Safety Assessment
Sodium Metabisulfite's 3/5 (Mixed Evidence) score reflects where this specific ingredient lands on that scale. The FDA classifies Sodium Metabisulfite as "Generally Recognized As Safe" (GRAS), meaning qualified experts consider it safe under intended conditions of use.
Research has identified 1 area of health concern associated with Sodium Metabisulfite. Consumers with specific health conditions should consult a healthcare provider before consuming products containing this ingredient.
How Sodium Metabisulfite compares
Where a safety score of 3/5 falls among all 4,509 scored ingredients tracked on PlainIngredients.
Ingredients by safety score (Sodium Metabisulfite highlighted)
25 of 4,509 scored ingredients (0.6%) share a safety score of 3/5.
What is Sodium Metabisulfite?
Sulfite preservative and antioxidant.
Health Concerns
- Triggers asthma in sulfite-sensitive individuals (~1%).
Common Uses
Wine, dried fruits, shrimp
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sodium Metabisulfite safe to consume?
Sodium Metabisulfite has a safety score of 3/5 (Mixed Evidence). It is approved by the FDA for use in food. As with all food additives, moderation is advisable.
What is Sodium Metabisulfite used for in food?
Sodium Metabisulfite is commonly used as: Wine, dried fruits, shrimp. It belongs to the Preservative category of food additives.
Is Sodium Metabisulfite banned in any US states?
Currently, no US states have enacted specific bans or regulations targeting Sodium Metabisulfite. However, state food safety legislation is evolving rapidly.
What is the difference between FDA and EU regulation of Sodium Metabisulfite?
The FDA classifies Sodium Metabisulfite as "GRAS", while the EU status is "Approved" (E223). The FDA and EU use separate evaluation frameworks, the EU often applies the precautionary principle, sometimes banning additives that remain approved in the US. Always check both jurisdictions when evaluating food additive safety.
What health concerns are associated with Sodium Metabisulfite?
Research has identified the following health concerns for Sodium Metabisulfite: Triggers asthma in sulfite-sensitive individuals (~1%).. These findings inform its safety score of 3/5. Consult a healthcare provider for personalized guidance, especially if you have pre-existing conditions.
How is the safety score for Sodium Metabisulfite calculated?
The safety score of 3/5 for Sodium Metabisulfite is a composite assessment based on FDA regulatory status, EU approval status, published scientific research on health effects, and state-level legislative actions. A score of 1 means "Banned / Avoid" and 5 means "Generally Safe." The score is updated as new regulatory actions or scientific evidence emerge.
Data Sources
- FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) Inventory
- EU Food Additive Regulations (EC) No 1333/2008
- State food safety legislation and bill records
Related Preservative Ingredients
What to do about Sodium Metabisulfite
Use the regulatory picture, not a single score, to decide.
- Check the FDA status (GRAS) and EU status (Approved) before assuming it is risk-free. How we score
- Compare it against the most-restricted additives in the U.S. supply. View rankings
- Scan a whole ingredient label at once to flag the concerning entries. Label checker
Safety scores summarise regulatory status and published concerns; they are not medical or dietary advice.
Every figure on PlainIngredients is rendered directly from FDA, EU, EFSA and U.S. state regulatory records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.