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Potassium Metabisulphite
Potassium Metabisulphite
Potassium Metabisulphite
What is it:
Potassium metabisulfite is a chemical compound commonly used in the food industry as a preservative, antioxidant, and antimicrobial agent. It is produced through the reaction of potassium hydroxide with sulfur dioxide, resulting in the formation of potassium bisulfite. This compound is then oxidized to create potassium metabisulfite. Potassium metabisulfite serves various functions, inhibiting the growth of bacteria and yeast, preventing oxidation, and preserving the color and flavor of various food products, including dried fruits, wines, and certain vegetables.
Rating:
Potassium metabisulfite is a sulphite additive that has been associated with negative health effects in primarily rat studies, including promoting tumor activity, having a genotoxic and cytoxic effect on cells, and causing significant changes in various organ tissues. Due to many reported adverse reactions such as anaphylactic and asthmatic reactions with increased use of sulphites in the 1970’s and ‘80’s, the FDA banned the use of sulphites in fresh fruits and vegetables. Sodium metabisulphite is also a known contact allergen for some people.
Resources:
- Potassium metabisulfite induces genotoxic and cytotoxic effects in human and rat cells (in vitro study)
- Potassium metabisulfite exerts tumor-promoting activity in stomach cells of rats (animal study)
- Sensitivity to ingested metabisulfites in asthmatic subjects (clinical trial)
- Toxic effects of potassium metabisulfite in rats (animal study)
- Adverse reactions to sulphite additives prompts FDA to prohibit use on fresh fruits and vegetables (review)
How we rate ingredients
Health is like a bank account, certain ingredients make a deposit into your health bank, meaning they add to
your health. Certain ingredients withdraw from your health bank. We want health promoting ingredients in our diet. To keep things simple, we rate ingredients on a green, yellow, red scale:
Clean
It is naturally occurring in food and has no harmful effects on the body. It is real food. It is health promoting.
Caution
It goes into one or more of the below categories
- It is not naturally occurring in food but doesn’t have data showing it has a harmful effect on the body (additives like Gellan Gum)
- It is naturally occurring but can have some harmful effects on the body (added sugars, oils, gums etc.)
We Avoid
It is known to have a harmful effect on the body (ex. All food colorings, Natural Flavors, MSG, Potassium bromate, aspartame, artificial flavors)
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