Sodium Metabisulfite (E223)

Sodium Metabisulfite 

Sodium metabisulfite is an inorganic sulfite salt produced by reacting sodium carbonate with sulfur dioxide gas, used as an antioxidant, preservative, and bleaching agent (E223) that releases sulfur dioxide to inhibit microbial growth, prevent oxidation, and maintain color in acidic conditions. In the food industry, it provides effective browning prevention, microbial control, and vitamin C protection ideal for dried fruits, wine, juices, and seafood.

Food Industry Applications

• Dried fruits and vegetables: Prevents enzymatic browning and microbial spoilage in apricots, raisins, potatoes, and dehydrated vegetables maintaining color, texture, and nutritional quality during drying and storage.

• Beverages: Acts as antioxidant in wine, beer, fruit juices, and carbonated drinks preventing oxidation, maintaining clarity, and stabilizing flavor during fermentation and bottling.

• Seafood products: Preserves color and freshness in shrimp, lobster, crab meat, and fish fillets inhibiting melanosis (black spot) and bacterial growth during processing and frozen storage.

• Processed fruit products: Controls browning in canned fruits, fruit purees, jams, and apple slices while protecting vitamin C content and extending shelf life.

• Starch extraction: Bleaches and preserves during corn, potato, and wheat starch extraction maintaining white color and preventing fermentation during processing.

Other Industry Applications

In the cosmetics industry, preserves personal care products; in the personal care industry, stabilizes formulations; in the water treatment industry, disinfects and dechlorinates water systems; in pulp and paper, bleaches pulp; in photography, develops films; in textiles, dyes and bleaches fabrics.