SULFITES

Intake:

The main contributors to total dietary exposure to sulfites differ between countries owing to differing patterns of use of sulfites in foods and of consumption of foods to which sulfites may be added. Thus dried fruit, sausages and nonalcoholic beverages were the main contributors of sulfites in some countries, while in other countries these foods are generally produced without the use of sulfites. In countries where wine is regularly consumed, it was one of the main contributors to dietary exposure in adults. Dietary exposure in high regular consumers of wine (97.5th Summary and conclusions of the sixty-ninth meeting of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) Page 4 of 21 issued 4 July 2008 percentile) was shown to exceed the ADI for sulfites (0-0.7 mg/kg bw) based either on MLs in Codex GSFA, on MLs in national legislation or on the average concentration determined analytically (about 100 mg/l). In children and teenagers, a significant contribution to mean exposure to sulfites could come from fruit juices and soft drinks (including cordial), sausages, various forms of processed potatoes, dried fruit and nuts. Other significant contributions to dietary exposure in the adult population come from dried fruit, sausages and beer.

Report: 

Tox Monograph: 

ADI:

0-0.7 mg/kg bw

Intake:

TRS 891-JECFA 51/128,158; FAS 42-JECFA 51/441. Intake estimates based on food additive levels in the draft General Standard for Food Additives being developed by the Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants, integrated with national data on food consumption, exceeded the ADI of 0-0.7 mg/kg bw for mean intake in the three Member States that submitted such data. In national data submitted by six Member States, estimates of mean intake of sulfites did not exceed the ADI. The potential exists for consumers of high levels of sulfites to exceed the ADI, but the available data were insufficient to estimate the number of such consumers or the magnitude and duration of intake above the ADI.

Report: 

Tox Monograph: