E220 - E229 - Sulphides

The family composed of sulfur dioxide and its salts is subject to strong negative criticism from food and nutrition specialists, due to the problems related to its use in various products.
The adaptation of the Italian legislation to the European one has meant that the foods to which it is possible to add these preservatives have increased, also increasing the maximum permitted doses.

Our organism is able to cope with sulphites in doses considered harmless, because they - before elimination in the urine - pass through the liver and undergo the action of sulphite-oxidase. If the dose is exceeded, however, it is possible that some side effects may appear, such as headache. It is mandatory to report the presence of sulphites in the labels of beers and wines, to allow the consumer to know what is inside the products he consumes. However, according to European legislation, if the quantity of sulphites in the various products is less than 10 mg / l (quantity naturally produced in the fermentation process and in any case irrelevant), there is no obligation to report them on the label.
In Italy sulphites are the only antiseptic allowed in oenology, and the maximum limit that can be contained in wines intended for direct consumption is: 210 mg / l for dry white wines, 260 mg / l for white and rosé wines sweet, 400 mg / l for sweet passito wines, 160 mg / l for dry red wines and 260 mg / l for sweet red wines.

Table (FROM: FOOD ADDITIVES-MARIANI-TESTA) -

Below are the maximum quantities of sulphites that can be present in food (according to European regulations):

FOODS MAXIMUM PERMITTED DOSE (mg / kg or mg / l) Vinegar 170 Starches 50 Biscuits 50 Crustaceans 150 Fruit cake fillings 100 Animal jellies 50 Molasses 70 Stockfish and cod 200 Glucose syrup 20 Dijon mustard 500 Mustard (other types) 250 Snack based on potatoes and cereals 50 Meat, fish or shellfish substitutes based on animal proteins 200 Sugar 15 Dried coconut 100 Fruit concentrates 250 Condiments based on citrus juices 200 Jams and marmalades (not extra) 50 Apricots, peaches, raisins, plums, dried figs 2000 Dried bananas 1000 Dried apples and pears 600 Dried fruit in shell 100 Candied fruit 100 Dried mushrooms 100 Fruit mustards 100 Vegetables in oil, in vinegar, in brine 100 Pearl barley 30 Prepared for puree, dehydrated potato flakes 400 Dry tomatoes 200 Dried ginger 150 Red wines 160 White and rosé wines 210 Sweet red wines (sugar over 5g / l) 210 Sweet white and rosé wines 260 German wines Spatlese and Auslese 300 Bordeaux white wines 300 French wines Sauternes, Barzac, Cadillac, Montbazillac 400 Ausbruchwein, Trochenbeerenauslese 400 Non-alcoholic fruit drinks 20 Beer 50 Double fermentation beer 50 Cider and fruit wines 200 Mead 200 Concentrated grape juice 200 Wine-based drink 260 Lemon juice 350

E200 E201 E202 E203 E210 E211 E212 E213 E214-E2119 E220 E221 E222 E223 E224 E225 E226 E227 E228 E230 231 E232 E233 E234 E235 E236 E237 E238 E239 E240 E242 E249 E250 E251 E252 E260 E261 E262 E263 E270 E280 E284 E285 E290 E296 E297