Sulfite Allergy Card
Create a personalised sulfite allergy card. Clearly communicate your wine, cider, dried fruit, pickled foods, sulfite preservatives allergies to restaurants and food providers.
Allergens Covered
- Wine
- Cider
- Dried fruit
- Pickled foods
- Sulfite preservatives
Add your own allergens to fully customise your card
Sulfite sensitivity is a reaction to sulfur dioxide and sulfite preservatives used widely in food and drink. It is particularly common in people with asthma. Reactions can include breathing difficulties, hives, and digestive symptoms. A sulfite allergy card helps you avoid hidden sulfites in restaurants and shops.
Where Sulfites Hide
Sulfites are used as preservatives in wine, beer, dried fruits, fruit juices, pickled foods, and many processed foods. They appear in prawns and other shellfish treated with sulfite solutions to prevent discolouration. Vinegar, cordials, and some medications also contain sulfites. Restaurant salad bars may use sulfite solutions to keep lettuce and vegetables looking fresh.
How a Sulfite Allergy Card Helps
Sulfite sensitivity is poorly understood outside specialist allergy circles. Many food handlers have no idea which products contain sulfite preservatives. A card listing your sensitivity prompts staff to check labels and preparation methods, rather than guessing which items are safe.
When to Use Your Sulfite Allergy Card
Carry your card at restaurants, wine bars, pubs, and anywhere serving processed or preserved foods. It is especially important at buffets and salad bars where sulfite treatments may be used. When travelling, wine-producing regions and countries that rely on preserved foods warrant extra caution - a translated card helps.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are sulfites in wine?
- Yes. Most wines contain sulfites, either naturally produced during fermentation or added as a preservative. Some producers make low-sulfite wines, but truly sulfite-free wine is rare.
- Is sulfite sensitivity the same as a sulfur allergy?
- No. Sulfite sensitivity is a reaction to sulfite preservatives in food and drink. It is different from allergies to sulfa drugs or elemental sulfur.
- Can sulfites cause asthma attacks?
- Yes. Sulfites are a known trigger for asthma symptoms in sensitive individuals. If you have asthma and sulfite sensitivity, carrying an allergy card is especially important.
Create Your Free Sulfite Allergy Card
Use AllergIQ to create a personalised sulfite allergy card in minutes. Download a digital version for free or order a printed card to carry with you.