Sodium Hydrogen Sulphite
Function: Preservative
E222 is the European food-additive number for Sodium Hydrogen Sulphite, a preservative — used to extend shelf life by slowing spoilage from microbes. SODIUM BISULFITE is a chemical compound with the chemical formula NaHSO3.
What is E222 used for?
Sodium Hydrogen Sulphite (E222) is a preservative — used to extend shelf life by slowing spoilage from microbes. It is added during food production for a technological purpose rather than for nutrition. See all preservatives (E-numbers).
Is E222 safe or restricted?
E222 faces restrictions under EU rules on how, where, or in what quantities it may be used. Forkin classifies it as “Restricted use” and does not make health claims. See the methodology for how regulatory levels are assigned, or the guide to how EU additives are approved, re-evaluated and banned.
Is E222 vegan or vegetarian?
Sodium Hydrogen Sulphite (E222) is typically produced from plant, mineral, or synthetic sources, so it is generally suitable for vegans and vegetarians.
E222 belongs to the sulphite group (E220–E228). Sulphites are one of the 14 EU-declarable allergens: above 10 mg/kg or 10 mg/L the label must state “contains sulphites”, whatever the additive's technological purpose.
The production source can vary between manufacturers — the Forkin app shows the verified vegan and vegetarian status per product. Always read the label for allergens.
Which foods contain E222?
E222 appears in 1,782 of the 4.7 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in shrimp / prawns, mustard and potato.
- Shrimp / Prawns211
- Mustard177
- Potato137
- Sausages53
- Lemon43
- Lobster37
- Prepared Green Salads36
- Prepared Pasta & Grain Salads35
Often appears alongside
Additives most frequently found in the same ingredient lists as E222 across the catalogue.
Counts reflect Forkin's independently enriched product catalogue and update as new products are added — they are not a market-share statistic.
Frequently asked questions about E222
- What is E222?
- E222 is the E-number for Sodium Hydrogen Sulphite, a preservative — used to extend shelf life by slowing spoilage from microbes. SODIUM BISULFITE is a chemical compound with the chemical formula NaHSO3.
- What is E222 used for?
- Sodium Hydrogen Sulphite (E222) is a preservative — used to extend shelf life by slowing spoilage from microbes. Manufacturers add it during processing rather than for nutrition. The Forkin app shows which products in your scan history actually contain it.
- Which foods contain E222?
- E222 appears in 1,782 of the 4.7 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in shrimp / prawns, mustard and potato. Scan any barcode with the Forkin app to see instantly whether a specific product contains it.
- Is E222 vegan or vegetarian?
- Sodium Hydrogen Sulphite (E222) is typically produced from plant, mineral, or synthetic sources, so it is generally suitable for vegans and vegetarians. E222 belongs to the sulphite group (E220–E228). Sulphites are one of the 14 EU-declarable allergens: above 10 mg/kg or 10 mg/L the label must state “contains sulphites”, whatever the additive's technological purpose. The Forkin app shows the verified vegan and vegetarian status per product, since the source can vary between manufacturers.
- Is E222 safe, and is it banned anywhere?
- E222 faces restrictions under EU rules on how, where, or in what quantities it may be used. Forkin classifies it as "Restricted use" and does not make health claims — see the methodology page for how regulatory levels are assigned, and the Forkin app for the full profile, including acceptable daily intake (ADI) and restrictions by country.
See the full profile in Forkin
The Forkin app surfaces the full regulatory profile of E222 — acceptable daily intake (ADI), restrictions by country, vegan/vegetarian status, alternative names, and which products in your scan history contain it. See view pricing.