Additive · Antioxidant

E223 — Sodium metabisulphite

E223 (Sodium metabisulphite) appears in the ingredient lists of 818 products sold in the United Kingdom. Function: antioxidant, preservative.

818products with a complete record
18%rated A or B on Nutri-Score
1.4 gsugars per 100 g (median)
0.73 gsalt per 100 g (median)

Nutri-Score

How rated products spread
A 10%B 8%C 28%D 40%E 14%

668 rated products

Median values

Per 100 g, across all 818 products
Energy207 kcal
Sugars1.4 g
Saturates3.1 g
Salt0.73 g

Status in the United States (FDA)

Listed in the FDA inventory “Substances Added to Food”, with the regulations 21 CFR 173.310, 182.3766.

Technical effects listed by the FDA: antimicrobial agent, antioxidant, color or coloring adjunct, dough strengthener, flour treating agent, freezing or cooling agent, direct contact, oxidizing or reducing agent

The inventory is a partial list, and a listing is not an FDA approval of every use; the regulations set the permitted uses.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Substances Added to Food (updated 9/8/2026), public domain · CAS 7681-57-4 via Wikidata (CC0)

Products containing it, by country

Products listing this additive in each country edition of Shelfpedia (Open Food Facts data)

Products

818 products, most viewed first · page 1 of 18.

Dried Mango, Alesto
Dried MangoAlesto · 100g51 scansD
Dried Mangoes, Kirkland
Dried MangoesKirkland · 992 g38 scansD
Multigrain Crackers, Tesco
Multigrain CrackersTesco35 scansD
Dried Mango, The Foodie Market
Dried MangoThe Foodie Market32 scansD
dried mango, Aldi
dried mangoAldi · 10032 scansD
Cannellini Beans In Water, Tesco
Cannellini Beans In WaterTesco · 400g30 scansA
Robinsons Orange Squash, Robinsons
Robinsons Orange SquashRobinsons · 1ltr27 scansC
Chickpeas drained, Napolina
Chickpeas drainedNapolina · 400g27 scansA
Outdoor Bred Proper Porkers 6 British Sausages with rubbed sage, The Jolly Hog
Outdoor Bred Proper Porkers 6 British Sausages with rubbed sageThe Jolly Hog · 400 g26 scansD
TUC Original, Tuc
TUC OriginalTuc · 150 g25 scansE
Dijon Mustard, Tesco
Dijon MustardTesco · 185 g25 scansE
Chocolate cream sandwich cookies, Gullón
Chocolate cream sandwich cookiesGullón · 250g25 scansC
Chickpeas in water, Sainsbury's
Chickpeas in waterSainsbury's · 240 g24 scansA
Tropical Granola, Crownfield
Tropical GranolaCrownfield · 1kg21 scansC
Chicken Sausages, Ashfields
Chicken SausagesAshfields · 340 g21 scansE
sun quench apple and strawberrie
sun quench apple and strawberrie20 scansA
Harissa chicken couscous salad, Marks & Spencer
Harissa chicken couscous saladMarks & Spencer19 scansA
Lime Juice, Rose's
Lime JuiceRose's · 1 L19 scans
Fruit Creations: Orange & Mango, Robinsons
Fruit Creations: Orange & MangoRobinsons · 1 L19 scansC
Coconut Milk, Sainsbury's
Coconut MilkSainsbury's · 400 ml18 scansE
Robinsons Apple & Blackcurrant, Robinsons
Robinsons Apple & BlackcurrantRobinsons · 1 l18 scansC
Fruit & Barley Peach, Robinsons
Fruit & Barley PeachRobinsons · 1 litre18 scansC
Multigrain Crackers, Asda
Multigrain CrackersAsda18 scansC
Raspberry Flavor Shortcake Cookies, Jammie Dodgers
Raspberry Flavor Shortcake CookiesJammie Dodgers · 140g17 scansE
Double Concentrate Orange Squash No Added Sugar, Robinsons
Double Concentrate Orange Squash No Added SugarRobinsons · 1,75 L17 scansC
Dairylea lunchers
Dairylea lunchers17 scansD
Butter beans in water, Sainsbury's
Butter beans in waterSainsbury's · 400g16 scansA
Butter Beans, Freshona
Butter BeansFreshona · 400 g16 scansA
4 Signature Pork Sausages, Tesco finest
4 Signature Pork SausagesTesco finest · 440 g16 scansD
SMALL CHUNK PICKLE, Branston
SMALL CHUNK PICKLEBranston · 720 g16 scansE
Maria biscuits, Gullon
Maria biscuitsGullon · 400g16 scansD
Horseradish Sauce, Colman's
Horseradish SauceColman's · 136g16 scansC
Taste the Difference 6 Outdoor Bred British Pork Sausages, Sainsbury's
Taste the Difference 6 Outdoor Bred British Pork SausagesSainsbury's15 scansD
Chickpeas in Water, Freshona
Chickpeas in WaterFreshona · 400g15 scansA
Pure Creamed Coconut, KTC
Pure Creamed CoconutKTC · 200 g15 scansC
Bites Mature Cheddar & Caramelised Onion, Jacob’s
Bites Mature Cheddar & Caramelised OnionJacob’s14 scansD
Dijon mustard, Sainsbury's
Dijon mustardSainsbury's · 185 g13 scansE
Double Concentrate Apple & Blackcurrant Squash No Added Sugar, Robinsons
Double Concentrate Apple & Blackcurrant Squash No Added SugarRobinsons · 1.75L13 scansD
Crushed Lime & Mint, Robinsons
Crushed Lime & MintRobinsons · 500ml13 scans
Classic pork chipolata sausages gluten free extra special, Asda
Classic pork chipolata sausages gluten free extra specialAsda13 scansD
Tim Tam, Arnott’s
Tim TamArnott’s · 163g13 scansE
Wholegrain Mustard 180g, Sainsbury's
Wholegrain Mustard 180gSainsbury's · 180g12 scansD
Double strength apple and blackcurrant, Robinsons
Double strength apple and blackcurrantRobinsons · 1 litre12 scansC
Orange Squash, Robinsons
Orange SquashRobinsons12 scansC
10 Pork Sausages, Tesco finest
10 Pork SausagesTesco finest12 scansC
Dairylea Lunchers Ham 'n' Cheese, Mondelez
Dairylea Lunchers Ham 'n' CheeseMondelez · 65g12 scansD
Cherries & Berries Squash DOUBLE STRENGTH. NO ADDED SUGAR, Sun quench
Cherries & Berries Squash DOUBLE STRENGTH. NO ADDED SUGARSun quench11 scansC
Chicken Chipolatas, Ashfields
Chicken ChipolatasAshfields · 340 g11 scansB

Source: Open Food Facts export of 1 November 2026, ODbL · Shelfpedia calculations (medians, distributions).