What does Sodium metabisulfite do?

Used in cosmetics as a preservative, an antioxidant and a hair waving or straightening agent. Sodium Bisulfite is the inorganic salt.

Is Sodium metabisulfite safe?

Moderate concern: no hazard classifications on record. It is listed for cosmetic use in the EU.

beauty
cleaning
food
industrial

Sodium metabisulfite

CAS 7757-83-7 · 40/100 · High conf.

Also registered as 13 other CAS numbers

15771-29-6 · 1287784-10-4 · 2242622-57-5 · 4429-42-9 · 7631-90-5 · 7681-57-4 · 7757-74-6 · 7773-03-7 · 10117-38-1 · 10192-30-0 · 10196-04-0 · 16731-55-8 · 23873-77-0

Concern score

40/100Moderate concern based on regulatory listings.

High confidence

Sodium metabisulfite in plain language

What it is: On cosmetic ingredient lists it appears as “Ammonium bisulfite”.
Also known as Ammonium bisulfite · Ammonium sulfite · Potassium metabisulfite · Potassium sulfite · POTASSIUM hydrogen SULFITE · Sodium bisulfite
Show all 43 names
Sodium sulfite · Sodium pyrosulfite · Disodium pentaoxodisulfate · Inorganic sulphites and hydrogensulphites (5) · Sodium disulfite · Disodium salt disulfurous acid · Disodium oxido(oxo)-lambda~4~-sulfanesulfonate · Sodium metabisulfite (e 223) · Ammonium hydrogensulphite · Campden Tablets · Disodium pyrosulfite · Disodium pyrosulphite · Dipotassium disulphite · Disodium disulphite · E-223 · Ins NO.223 · INS-223 · Natrii disulfis · Natrium metabisulfurosum · Natrium pyrosulfit · Natriummetabisulfit · Potassium sulphite · Sodium metabisulphite · Sodium pyrosulphite · Sobis · Sobisu · Sodium bisulfite anhydrous · Sodium disulfite (Na2S2O5) · Sodium hydrogensulphite · Sodium metabisulfite (Na2S2O5) · Sodium pyrosulfite (Na2S2O5) · Sodium sulfur oxide (Na2S2O5) · Sodium sulphite · disodium metabisulfite · natrii sulfis · sodium metabisulfite - 1 mg/vial · sodium metabisulfite/sodium bisulfite
What it does: Used in cosmetics as a preservative, an antioxidant and a hair waving or straightening agent. Sodium Bisulfite is the inorganic salt.
Preservative
Antioxidant
Hair waving or straightening
Reducing
Antioxidant, flour treatment agent, preservative
Colourant
Is it a concern?: Moderate concern: no hazard classifications on record. It is listed for cosmetic use in the EU.

What the listings say

Permitted, with conditions — Sodium metabisulfite appears on published "allowed" regulatory lists rather than on a restriction list.

Inorganic sulphites and hydrogensulphites (5) is listed in Annex V of the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009 (preservatives allowed in cosmetic products).

The score describes this ingredient's chemical identity — its hazard profile from published classifications and regulatory status — not the safety of any product it appears in.

Regulation

No restrictions found. Sodium metabisulfite appears in these published regulatory listings.

EU Annex V — permitted preservative
EU permitted preservative
Inactive ingredient in US drugs

Recorded in these product areas

Found in consumer products
Beauty
Cleaning
Pharma
Food
Industrial

USFDAinactive ingredient database43 entries — 21 administration routes
- Route: INTRAVENOUS; Dosage form: INJECTION; Potency: 27.5 %w/vSource →
- Route: INTRAVENOUS; Dosage form: INJECTION, EMULSION; Potency: 0.03 %w/vSource →
- Route: INTRAVENOUS; Dosage form: INJECTION, SOLUTION; Maximum daily exposure: 79 mgSource →
- Route: INTRAVENOUS; Dosage form: INJECTION, SOLUTION, CONCENTRATE; Potency: 0.15 %w/vSource →
- Route: IONTOPHORESIS; Dosage form: SOLUTION; Potency: 0.05 %w/vSource →
- Route: IONTOPHORESIS; Dosage form: SYSTEM; Potency: 0.5 mgSource →
- Route: OPHTHALMIC; Dosage form: SOLUTION; Potency: 0.2 %w/wSource →
- Route: OPHTHALMIC; Dosage form: SUSPENSION/ DROPS; Potency: 0.1 %w/wSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CAPSULE; Potency: 0.36 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CONCENTRATE; Potency: 2 mg/1mlSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: SOLUTION; Maximum daily exposure: 640 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: SUSPENSION; Maximum daily exposure: 40 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: SUSPENSION, EXTENDED RELEASE; Maximum daily exposure: 100 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: SYRUP; Maximum daily exposure: 80 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET; Potency: 8 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, CHEWABLE; Potency: 0.2 mgSource →
- Route: PERIDURAL; Dosage form: INJECTION; Potency: NASource →
- Route: PERINEURAL; Dosage form: INJECTION; Potency: 0.05 %w/vSource →
- Route: RECTAL; Dosage form: TABLET; Potency: 2 mgSource →
- Route: RESPIRATORY (INHALATION); Dosage form: SOLUTION; Potency: 0.3 %w/wSource →
- Route: SUBCUTANEOUS; Dosage form: INJECTION; Maximum daily exposure: 43 mgSource →
- Route: SUBCUTANEOUS; Dosage form: INJECTION, SOLUTION; Maximum daily exposure: 79 mgSource →
- Route: SUBCUTANEOUS; Dosage form: INJECTION, SOLUTION, CONCENTRATE; Potency: 0.15 %w/vSource →
- Route: SUBLINGUAL; Dosage form: TABLET; Potency: 2 mgSource →
- Route: SUBMUCOSAL; Dosage form: INJECTION; Maximum daily exposure: 5 mgSource →
- Route: SUBMUCOSAL; Dosage form: INJECTION, SOLUTION; Potency: 5 %w/vSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: CREAM; Potency: 0.2 %w/wSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: LOTION; Potency: 0.2 %w/vSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: SOAP; Potency: 0.36 %w/wSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: SUSPENSION; Potency: 0.32 %w/vSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: SYSTEM; Potency: 0.5 mgSource →
- Route: EPIDURAL; Dosage form: INJECTION; Potency: 0.05 %w/vSource →
- Route: INFILTRATION; Dosage form: INJECTION; Potency: 0.5 %w/vSource →
- Route: INFILTRATION; Dosage form: INJECTION, SOLUTION; Potency: 0.05 %w/vSource →
- Route: INTRA-ARTICULAR; Dosage form: INJECTION; Potency: 0.2 %w/vSource →
- Route: INTRABURSAL; Dosage form: INJECTION; Potency: 0.2 %w/vSource →
- Route: INTRACARDIAC; Dosage form: INJECTION; Potency: 0.09 %w/vSource →
- Route: INTRALESIONAL; Dosage form: INJECTION; Potency: 0.1 %w/vSource →
- Route: INTRAMUSCULAR; Dosage form: INJECTION; Potency: 27.5 %w/vSource →
- Route: INTRAMUSCULAR; Dosage form: INJECTION, SOLUTION; Maximum daily exposure: 96 mgSource →
- + 3 more entries not shown
EUCosIngActive7 entries
- Sodium Bisulfite is the inorganic salt that conforms to the formula: Restriction: III/99 V/9Source →
- Sodium Metabisulfite is the inorganic salt that conforms to the formula: Restriction: III/99 V/9Source →
- Sodium Sulfite is the inorganic salt that conforms to the formula: Restriction: III/99 V/9Source →
- Cosmetics Regulation annex V / ref 9.Source →
- Potassium Metabisulfite is the inorganic salt that conforms to the formula: Restriction: III/99 V/9Source →
- Potassium Sulfite is the inorganic salt that conforms to the formula: Restriction: III/99 V/9Source →
- Ammonium Bisulfite is an inorganic salt that conforms to the formula: Restriction: III/99 V/9Source →
EUEFSAEFSA opinion2 entries
- Safety assessment of the active substance potassium metabisulfite, for use in active food contact materials (EFSA CEF)Source →
- Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of sulfur dioxide (E 220), sodium sulfite (E 221), sodium bisulfite (E 222), sodium metabisulfite (E 223), potassium metabisulfite (E 224), calcium sulfite (E 226), calcium bisulfite (E 227) and potassium bisulfite (E 228) as food additives (EFSA ANS)Source →
EUECallowed_listedAnnex V of EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009: preservatives allowed in cosmetic products. Maximum concentration: 0.2% (as free SO2)
- Annex V of EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009: preservatives allowed in cosmetic products. Maximum concentration: 0.2% (as free SO2)Source →
GLOBALJECFA0-0.7 mg/kg bwJECFA evaluation lists ADI 0-0.7 mg/kg bw. Functional class: antioxidant, flour treatment agent, preservative.
- JECFA evaluation lists ADI 0-0.7 mg/kg bw. Functional class: antioxidant, flour treatment agent, preservative.Source →
GLOBALJECFAEvaluatedJECFA evaluation record.
- JECFA evaluation record.Source →
USEPAcommercial use observedEPA CPDat observed this chemical in 981 composition records across product categories including Laboratory supplies, Specialty occupational products, Batteries. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Stabilizing agent, Preservative, Antioxidant.
- EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 981 composition records across product categories including Laboratory supplies, Specialty occupational products, Batteries. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Stabilizing agent, Preservative, Antioxidant.Source →
USFDAlisted in openFDA substanceopenFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.
- openFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.Source →

Expert safety opinions

Independent scientific assessments cited by the records we hold, with the year and link where the record gives one.

SCCS
EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety
No SCCS opinion on file.
CIR
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (US expert panel)
No CIR safety assessment on file.
EFSA
European Food Safety Authority
- Safety assessment of the active substance potassium metabisulfite, for use in active food contact materials (EFSA CEF)
  2016 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
- Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of sulfur dioxide (E 220), sodium sulfite (E 221), sodium bisulfite (E 222), sodium metabisulfite (E 223), potassium metabisulfite (E 224), calcium sulfite (E 226), calcium bisulfite (E 227) and potassium bisulfite (E 228) as food additives (EFSA ANS)
  2016 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
JECFA
Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives
- JECFA evaluation lists ADI 0-0.7 mg/kg bw. Functional class: antioxidant, flour treatment agent, preservative.
  Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →
- JECFA evaluation record.
  Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →

Evidence & sources

No graded research studies for Sodium metabisulfite yet. This record is compiled from the published data sources below — registries and regulatory listings, not study findings.

10 data sources

Where this comes from

CosIng
regulatory · updated 2026-09-23
Open →
EU CosIng Cosmetics Regulation Annexes
regulatory · updated 2010-10-16
Open →
EFSA OpenFoodTox
regulatory · updated 2026-10-02
Open →
EPA Chemical and Products Database
exposure · updated september 30, 2011
Open →
EPA DSSTox Identifiers
chemistry · updated 2025-12-29
Open →
FDA Inactive Ingredient Database
regulatory · updated 2026-01-09
Open →
FDA GSRS UNII
registry · updated 2026-02-26
Open →
WHO JECFA Database
regulatory · updated 2026-10-02
Open →
openFDA Substance
registry · updated 2026-05-24
Open →
PubChem Live Enrichment
chemistry · updated 2026-05-17
Open →

Reference links (2)

Openfda substance

fao.org

Read →

Openfda substance

codexalimentarius.net

Read →

Allergen profile

Canonical allergen markers detected on this ingredient. Each row is derived from the ingredient’s name or synonyms matching a known allergen class — useful when scanning a label for a specific allergy context.

SulphitesContains · Oral (ingested)
Source: chemindex_name_match

Suitability

Context-specific fit derived from published classifications and the current ingredient evidence profile.

Food use

Food-use source coverage is present in the current record.

Good fit

The ingredient appears in food-oriented source coverage or allowed-use references, which makes food use easier to support than a context with no domain signal at all.

Fragrance avoidance

Not a strong fit for fragrance avoidance because it carries Fragrance.

Avoid

The ingredient itself is a fragrance-linked signal, so it is better treated as an avoid case when fragrance exposure is the main concern.

Where it has been recorded

How often EPA CPDat has listed Sodium metabisulfite in a product composition. These are source records, not Greenveil catalog products.

Source records

981

Named organisations

Laboratory suppliesSpecialty occupational productsBatteriesFood and drugIndustrial productsCleaning and safety

Typical roles

PreservativeAntioxidantHair waving or straighteningReducingAntioxidant, flour treatment agent, preservativeColourant

See products using Sodium metabisulfite →

Catalog

Found in these products

Cosmetic and personal-care products that list Sodium metabisulfite are shown first. Their ingredient lists include Sodium metabisulfite; each product's own rating depends on its whole formula, so it is shown on the product page, not here.

See all 313 →Find products without it →