Sulfite Allergy | Allergy

Foods That Contain Sulfites

by Allergy Guy

Here is a partial list of foods that can contain sulfites.

Note that all fermented products, such as beer and wine, contain natural sulfites. They can also contain added sulfites.

According to Quality Attibutes and Their Measurement in Meat, Poultry and Fish Products By Albert Marchant Pearson, sulfites are excellent at preserving the colour of fresh meat.  It is supposedly illegal to use for this purpose in the US, but still happens.  It is legal to add sulfites to pork sausages in the UK.  Apparently, sulfites can also reduce the incidents of salmonella growth in meat.

  • Apple cider
  • Apples (dried, glazed, dehydrated, canned or frozen)
  • Apricots (dried, glazed or dehydrated)
  • Baked goods
  • Beer (Alcoholic or non-alcoholic)
  • Breads
  • Candy
  • Canned fruits and vegetables
  • Cereal
  • Cheese, blue *
  • Cheese, soft (some types)*
  • Chocolate bars
  • Cider (Alcoholic or non-alcoholic)
  • Coconut (dried or dehydrated)
  • Coleslaw
  • Condiments
  • Cookies
  • Cornmeal
  • Cornstarch
  • Crackers
  • Deli meat
  • Dextrose syrup
  • Dressings
  • Dried fruit
  • Fish
  • Frozen fruits and vegetables
  • Fruit bars
  • Fruit filling
  • Fruit juice
  • Fruit syrup
  • Gelatin
  • Glazed fruits
  • Glucose solids
  • Glucose syrup
  • Grape juice (regular or sparkling)
  • Grapes (fresh) – safe in some countries
  • Grapes (glazed)
  • Gravies
  • Guacamole
  • Herbs (dried)
  • Horseradish
  • Hot Dogs
  • Jams
  • Jellies
  • Ketchup
  • Lemon juice/concentrate
  • Lettuce (fresh) – safe in some countries
  • Lime juice/concentrate
  • Maraschino cherries
  • Marmalade
  • Meat (even fresh meat, depending on preparation)
  • Mincemeat (dried or dehydrated)
  • Molasses
  • Muesli
  • Mushrooms (canned or frozen)
  • Mustard
  • Noodles
  • Olives (canned)
  • Onions (pickled)
  • Papaya (dried or dehydrated)
  • Pastries
  • Peaches (dried or dehydrated)
  • Pears (dried or dehydrated)
  • Peas (canned or frozen)
  • Pectin
  • Peppers (canned or frozen)
  • Perfume*
  • Pickled foods
  • Pickles
  • Pineapple (dried or dehydrated)
  • Potato chips
  • Potato starch
  • Potatoes (dehydrated, frozen french fries, dehydrated, mashed, peeled, pre-cut)
  • Raisins (dried or dehydrated)
  • Relish
  • Rice mixes
  • Sauces
  • Sauerkraut
  • Sausages
  • Shellfish
  • Shrimp (fresh/frozen)
  • Snack foods
  • Soft drinks
  • Soup mixes
  • Soups
  • Soy products
  • Spices
  • Starches
  • Sugar beet starch
  • Sugar syrups
  • Tea
  • Tomatoes (dried, sun dried, dehydrated, canned, frozen or paste/pulp/puree)
  • Tortilla chips
  • Trail mix
  • Vegetable juices
  • Vinegar, wine vinegar
  • Waffles
  • Water (bottled)
  • White grape juice
  • Wine (Alcoholic or non-alcoholic)

Foods with Naturally Occurring Sulfites

According to one of our readers, here is a partial list of foods with naturally occurring sulfites.  I have not verified this list.

*

  • Grapes and all related products
  • Peanuts and all related products
  • Cabbage and all related products
  • Brussel Sprouts
  • Pork
  • All Soy
  • Molasses
  • Mushrooms
  • Onions
  • Garlic
  • Peppers

Note that it seems odd that pork would have naturally occurring sulfites, however the reader that suggested this reports that she reacts to all pork, even when cooked at home.  It could be that it contains sulfites, or that she is sensitive to pork.  Please share your own experience with pork: does it cause you problems or not?

Personal Care Products

The following may contain sulfites.  Check each item/brand that you use with the manufacturer before using.

(Note: not a complete list.  You should check all your personal care products, including soap, makeup etc.)

  • Shampoo
  • Toothpaste

Please leave a comment if you notice anything that is missing

* Items marked with and asterisk have been suggested by readers by I have not personally verified them.

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