How to Eat With a Sulfite Allergy

Sulfites occur naturally or may be added to food to preserve it or enhance flavors. You can develop a sulfite sensitivity or allergy at any time in your life. Symptoms of a sulfite allergy range from asthma, hives, stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea, to seizures and anaphylactic shock causing death. For this reason, it is imperative that anyone with a sulfite allergy avoid foods with sulfites.

Instructions

How to Avoid Sulfites in Foods and Beverages

1. Read all labels on foods very carefully to avoid purchasing and eating foods with sulfites. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that all food manufacturers list sulfites in the contents. Sulfite containing ingredients to look for on labels include: sulfur dioxide, potassium bisulfite or potassium metabisulfite, and sodium bisulfite, sodium metabisulfite, or sodium sulfite.

2. Ask the chef or server in a restaurant to only serve foods that do not contain sulfites. Some foods containing sulfites include baked goods, soups, dried fruits, pickled foods, vegetable juice, jams, canned vegetables, potato chips, and many condiments. Sulfites occur when beers and wines are produced.

3. Don't consume maple syrup, pectin, salmon, dried cod, corn starch, lettuce, tomatoes, soy products, eggs, onions, garlic, chives, leeks and asparagus. Sulfites occur naturally in these foods and products.

4. Don't worry about other raw vegetables. In 1986, the FDA banned the use of sulfites on all raw vegetables and fruit.

References

• American Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology
• Web MD