Sodium metabisulfite (E223) is a widely used food preservative and antioxidant that plays a key role in food preservation, baking, and beverage production. It is a sodium salt of sulphurous acid, valued for its ability to prevent discoloration, inhibit microbial growth, and modify dough properties in commercial baking operations.
For halal food manufacturers, sodium metabisulfite presents a straightforward case. It is an inorganic compound produced through chemical synthesis, and multiple halal certification bodies have confirmed its compliance with Islamic dietary law. Sourcing from a certified facility with current documentation ensures full halal traceability in your supply chain.
Is Sodium Metabisulfite Halal?
Yes, sodium metabisulfite (E223) is halal. According to MUIS (Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura), E223 is confirmed halal for Muslims. The compound is produced from mineral-based raw materials with no animal-derived inputs involved in its synthesis.
Specific halal-certified products are available from established suppliers. BASF SE’s production facility in Ludwigshafen, Germany, which manufactures sodium metabisulfite for Church and Dwight Specialty Chemicals, is also halal certified in addition to being kosher pareve.
Food Industry Applications
In baking, sodium metabisulfite is used in cracker production to develop a soft, extensible dough that improves machinability during sheeting and rolling. It also reduces mixing time requirements for certain flours, making production more efficient. These dough-conditioning properties make it a staple ingredient in large-scale bakery operations.
Sodium metabisulfite is also used to reduce discoloration in processed fruits and to preserve wine and other beverages. Its antioxidant properties help maintain the color and freshness of dried fruits, fruit juices, and vegetable preparations. In pharmaceutical preparations, it serves a similar preservative function.
Quality and Regulatory Standards
Food-grade sodium metabisulfite meets the purity criteria established by EU Directive 231/2012, the Codex Alimentarius (JECFA specifications), and the Food Chemical Codex (FCC). It also satisfies the specification limits of the European Pharmacopoeia, US Pharmacopeia, British Pharmacopoeia, and Japanese Pharmacopoeia.
The BASF Ludwigshafen facility that produces food-grade sodium metabisulfite is compliant with 21 CFR 177 Good Manufacturing Practice, registered with the US FDA as a food manufacturing facility, and certified to the FSSC 22000 food safety standard. These overlapping certifications provide a high level of assurance for quality-sensitive food manufacturers.
Halal Sodium Metabisulfite Supplier
We supply bulk food-grade sodium metabisulfite from top manufacturers in China. We help you handle the entire bulk ingredients sourcing process in China: manufacturer selection (top Chinese food ingredients manufacturers), price negotiation, quality verification, and logistics coordination.
View our Sodium Metabisulfite product page and request a free sample