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E224: Potassium metabisulphite

E-number
E224
Function
Preservative

Has a rule in v1

Names on labels

  • ukметабісульфіт калію
  • plpirosiarczyn potasu, Metadisiarczek potasu
  • enpotassium metabisulphite
  • esmetabisulfito de potasio, Metabisulfito potásico, Disulfito de potasio, Disulfito potásico, Pirosulfito de potasio
  • ruметабисульфит калия, Пиросульфит калия, дисульфит калия

What our v1 rating says

  • Lowers the score by 20 points out of 100. Age groups: under 6 months; 6 to 12 months; 1 to 3 years.

    Text shown in the rating

    A preservative is listed in the ingredients (for example a sorbate, benzoate, sulphite, propionate, nitrite or nitrate). Under EU rules (Regulation 1333/2008, Article 16) only listed additives may be used in foods for infants and young children, and preservatives of this kind are not on the list for that category (Regulation 1129/2011). That rule concerns foods made for infants and young children; by our methodological rating we apply it to this product as well, which lowers the score.

    Sources:12

  • Shown as a note; it does not change the score. Age groups: under 6 months; 6 to 12 months; 1 to 3 years; 3 to 6 years.

    The rule applies because our dictionary records this additive as carrying the allergen the rule is about.

    Text shown in the rating

    Found in the ingredient list: Sulphur dioxide and sulphites (one of the 14 allergens in Annex II of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011). This is a note about the ingredient list only.

    Sources:3

Sources

  1. Reg. (EC) 1333/2008, art. 16Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Article 16: use of food additives in foods for infants and young children (text as published on legislation.gov.uk)legislation.gov.uk (retained EU text), checked ↩ Back to the rule
  2. Reg. (EU) 1129/2011, annex II ECommission Regulation (EU) No 1129/2011, Annex II Part E, food category 13.1 (foods for infants and young children): list of permitted additives as adopted (text as published on legislation.gov.uk)legislation.gov.uk (retained EU text), checked ↩ Back to the rule
  3. FSAI: 14 allergensFood Information to Consumers: the 14 allergens listed in Annex II of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011FSAI (Ireland), checked ↩ Back to the rule

What we know and what we do not

We know the E-number, the function class and the names above.

We have not recorded its EU authorisation conditions, EFSA opinions or age limits, apart from the v1 rules on this page. That does not mean there are none; it means this reference has not confirmed them. For official information see the EFSA page on food additives.

EFSA: food additives

checked November 3, 2026

Same function: preservative

All additives

Article: what E-numbers in an ingredient list mean

Check an ingredient list that contains it