Sulfites are groups of chemical compounds of sulphur and oxygen. Sulfites are generally in the form of sodium sulfite, sodium bisulfite, sodium metabisulfite, potassium bisulfite, potassium metabisulfite. The sulfites are used mostly as preservatives or additives to food items. Sulfites are used for various reasons in food items such as (1) To reduce the spoilage effect caused by bacteria (2) To prevent browning of the fresh fruits and vegetables (3) To inhibit the growth of bacteria that take place during the fermentation of the wines (4) it helps in conditioning of the dough in frozen pie or pizza crust. Sulfites have not caused allergy in any manner accept to people who are already suffering through some allergies or asthma.

There is no specific method developed and suggested till date to diagonise the sulfite allergy. There is a skin test suggested to check out the sulfite allergy but there is no specific skin test to know about it. The only way to know about the sulfite allergy is to see the adverse reactions on the body after having the sulfite containing food or medicines.

The most common symptom to the sulfite allergy is the asthma attack. people who are prone to the asthma problem they get quick reaction in their bodies with the intake of the sulfites.But one thing that needs to be noted that the medicines of asthma also contain sulfite as a preservative so it is very important for the sulfite allergic person to know the content of the medicines they are consuming. The person who is normally suffering through the asthma problem as needs to sit with his or her doctor and prepare an asthma management plan the same way the one who is suffering from the sulfite allergy needs to draw precautions against certain things. The basic thing that needs to be managed is the medication and bit of the changes in the lifestyle to avoid asthma attacks produced from the sulfite allergy. One's own allergist can suggest some of the inhaler or the medicines to avoid asthma which will be sulfite free. One's own doctor can best judge out and suggest which medicine will suit a particular person the best way depending on the results of the diagnosis.

The Food and Drug Association has given out certain rules to mention out on the food items packaging about the sulfite content. Following are certain rules given out (1) The food items having the content of the sulfite greater than 10 ppm shall be mentioned on the packaging because the sulfite content lesser than 10 ppm does not affect the allergenic persons as well. (2) Sulfites cannot be added to the food items meant for raw consumption (3) If the sulfites are added to act as a preservative to the food item it should be clearly mentioned on the food label.