Is sodium metabisulfite toxic? Can it be used as a food additive?

Sodium metabisulfite has an obvious stimulating effect on the skin and mucous membranes, which can cause conjunctival and bronchitis symptoms. People with allergies or asthma are very sensitive to this. Direct skin contact can cause burns. Sodium metabisulfite is non-flammable, toxic and irritating.

       Sodium metabisulfite can be used as a food additive. Sodium metabisulfite biasulfate has a stronger reduction, similar to sodium sulfite. my country's regulations can be used for candied fruit, biscuits, sugar, rock sugar, caramel, candy, glucose, liquid glucose, bamboo shoots, mushrooms and canned mushrooms, the amount of use is 0.45g/kg. The residual amount of candied fruit, bamboo shoots, mushrooms and canned mushrooms, grapes and black currant juice (as SO2) is less than 0.05g/kg; the residual amount of biscuits, sugar, vermicelli and other varieties is less than 0.1g/kg; the residual of liquid glucose The amount should not exceed 0.2g/kg. Used as bleaching agent, preservative, loosening agent, antioxidant, color protecting agent and fresh-keeping agent in the food industry.

       As a kind of food additives, it is often used in foods as preservatives, bleaching agents and loosening agents.

　　The role of sodium metabisulfite in food:

　　 1. Sodium metabisulfite bisulfate has a stronger reduction, and its effect is similar to sodium sulfite. my country's regulations can be used for candied fruit, biscuits, sugar, rock sugar, caramel, candy, glucose, liquid glucose, bamboo shoots, mushrooms and canned mushrooms, the amount of use is 0.45g/kg. The residual amount of candied fruit, bamboo shoots, mushrooms and canned mushrooms, grapes and black currant juice (as SO2) is less than 0.05g/kg; the residual amount of biscuits, sugar, vermicelli and other varieties is less than 0.1g/kg; the residual of liquid glucose The amount should not exceed 0.2g/kg.

　　 2. Used as bleaching agent, preservative, loosening agent, antioxidant, color-preserving agent and preservative in food industry.

　　 Hazards of excessive use of sodium metabisulfite

　　Sodium metabisulfite can decompose sulfur dioxide in the air that strongly stimulates the human respiratory tract and gastric mucosa, causing cough and asthma. Moreover, sodium metabisulfite is easily soluble in water and produces sulfurous acid that will corrode the intestinal tract. In addition, sodium metabisulfite is artificially synthesized and cannot reach 100% purity. There will be residues of heavy metals such as lead and chromium. Long-term consumption may cause people to exceed the standard of heavy metals. Sodium metabisulfite additives are generally used for bleaching. If the residue exceeds the standard, it will cause allergic reactions and damage the digestive tract. If the human body ingests a large amount of sodium metabisulfite, it may damage liver and kidney organs, and severely cause acute poisoning or even death.