Sulphites (E 220 to E 228) are food additives. These notifications report more sulphite than the rules allow for that food.
206 notifications since 1 January 2020 named sulphites above the permitted level, under 1% of all EU notifications in that time. 33 in the 365 days to 8 November 2026, against 20 in the 365 days before, up 65%. 23% were border rejections and 21% had a serious risk decision.
The origins named most often were Ecuador (33), Spain (21) and Türkiye (19). The product categories named most often were crustaceans (98), fruit and vegetables (59) and soups, sauces and condiments (9). The products named most often were shrimps and prawns (66), apricots (23) and Norway lobsters (12).
Explainer sources, checked 18 October 2026: Food additives, European Commission.
Counts start on 1 January 2020 and run to 8 November 2026, the day the list was last read. A notification that names two countries of origin counts for each. Findings come from our word list matched against the EU subject line, which is never shown; 96% of all notifications match it, the rest count as other finding. Each reference links to the official record on RASFF Window. How this works.
Latest notifications that named sulphites above the permitted level
The newest 25 of 206, newest first, each built from fixed word lists. The reference opens the official record.
- Information for attention notified by Portugal: sulphites above the permitted level in shrimps and prawns from Ecuador, risk decision not serious, reference 2026.9845, validated 5 November 2026.
- Border rejection notified by Greece: sulphites above the permitted level and a risk of choking or injury in a mixed food product from Egypt, risk decision not serious, reference 2026.9763, validated 3 November 2026.
- Information for attention notified by Portugal: sulphites above the permitted level in shrimps and prawns from Spain, risk decision not serious, reference 2026.8959, validated 8 October 2026.
- Border rejection notified by Poland: sulphites above the permitted level in apricots from Türkiye, risk decision potential risk, reference 2026.8893, validated 8 October 2026.
- Information for attention notified by Estonia: sulphites above the permitted level in crustaceans from Ecuador, risk decision not serious, reference 2026.8157, validated 15 September 2026.
- Information for attention notified by Portugal: sulphites above the permitted level in shrimps and prawns from Spain, risk decision not serious, reference 2026.7891, validated 7 September 2026.
- Information for attention notified by France: sulphites above the permitted level in Norway lobsters from the United Kingdom, risk decision potentially serious, reference 2026.7637, validated 28 August 2026.
- Border rejection notified by Italy: sulphites above the permitted level in shrimps and prawns from Ecuador, risk decision not serious, reference 2026.7616, validated 28 August 2026.
- Information for follow up notified by France: sulphites above the permitted level in a prepared dish or snack from Morocco, risk decision not serious, reference 2026.7439, validated 21 August 2026.
- Information for attention notified by Poland: sulphites above the permitted level in coconut from Poland, risk decision serious, reference 2026.6959, validated 5 August 2026.
- Information for attention notified by Portugal: sulphites above the permitted level in shrimps and prawns from Ecuador, risk decision no risk, reference 2026.6865, validated 31 July 2026.
- Border rejection notified by Croatia: sulphites above the permitted level in apricots from Tajikistan, risk decision not serious, reference 2026.6669, validated 27 July 2026.
- Information for attention notified by Portugal: sulphites above the permitted level in shrimps and prawns from Spain, risk decision not serious, reference 2026.6515, validated 22 July 2026.
- Border rejection notified by Spain: sulphites above the permitted level in chutneys and hot sauces from Colombia, risk decision potential risk, reference 2026.6391, validated 17 July 2026.
- Border rejection notified by Croatia: sulphites above the permitted level in apricots from Tajikistan, risk decision not serious, reference 2026.6268, validated 14 July 2026.
- Information for attention notified by France: sulphites above the permitted level in shrimps and prawns from Ecuador, risk decision not serious, reference 2026.5413, validated 18 June 2026.
- Information for follow up notified by Germany: sulphites above the permitted level in shrimps and prawns from Ecuador, risk decision potential risk, reference 2026.5055, validated 9 June 2026.
- Information for attention notified by France: sulphites above the permitted level and labelling faults in fruit from Vietnam, risk decision serious, reference 2026.5036, validated 8 June 2026.
- Information for follow up notified by Poland: sulphites above the permitted level in a mixed food product from Poland, risk decision not serious, reference 2026.4760, validated 29 May 2026.
- Information for follow up notified by Poland: sulphites above the permitted level in a mixed food product from Poland, risk decision not serious, reference 2026.4770, validated 29 May 2026.
- Information for attention notified by Spain: sulphites above the permitted level in sweetcorn from Mexico, risk decision potential risk, reference 2026.3433, validated 22 April 2026.
- Information for attention notified by France: sulphites above the permitted level in shrimps and prawns from Ecuador, risk decision potentially serious, reference 2026.3323, validated 17 April 2026.
- Information for attention notified by France: sulphites above the permitted level in Norway lobsters from the United Kingdom, risk decision potentially serious, reference 2026.3273, validated 17 April 2026.
- Information for attention notified by France: aflatoxins, ochratoxin A and sulphites above the permitted level in apricots from Türkiye, risk decision serious, reference 2026.3108, validated 13 April 2026.
- Alert notified by France: sulphites above the permitted level and labelling faults in fruit from Italy, risk decision serious, reference 2026.2252, validated 17 March 2026.
Other additives and colours: an unauthorised additive, unauthorised colours, vitamins, minerals or other nutrients above safe levels.
The numbers
| Year | Notifications |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 32 |
| 2021 | 34 |
| 2022 | 14 |
| 2023 | 32 |
| 2024 | 47 |
| 2025 | 17 |
| 2026 (to 8 Nov 2026) | 30 |
| Type | Notifications | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Border rejection | 48 | 23% |
| Alert | 19 | 9% |
| Information for follow up | 54 | 26% |
| Information for attention | 85 | 41% |
| Risk decision | Notifications | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Serious | 44 | 21% |
| Potentially serious | 15 | 7% |
| Potential risk | 27 | 13% |
| Not serious | 109 | 53% |
| Undecided | 9 | 4% |
| No risk | 2 | under 1% |
| Product | Notifications |
|---|---|
| Shrimps and prawns | 66 |
| Apricots | 23 |
| Norway lobsters | 12 |
| Chutneys and hot sauces | 7 |
| Pickled vegetables | 5 |
| Raisins | 3 |
| Biscuits | 2 |
| Chicken meat | 2 |
| Coconut | 2 |
| Fruit | 2 |
| Origin | Notifications | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Ecuador | 33 | 16% |
| Spain | 21 | 10% |
| Türkiye | 19 | 9% |
| Venezuela | 15 | 7% |
| Ireland | 10 | 5% |
| China | 6 | 3% |
| Egypt | 6 | 3% |
| United States | 6 | 3% |
| Brazil | 5 | 2% |
| Italy | 5 | 2% |
| Morocco | 5 | 2% |
| Thailand | 5 | 2% |
| Product category | Notifications | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Crustaceans | 98 | 48% |
| Fruit and vegetables | 59 | 29% |
| Soups, sauces and condiments | 9 | 4% |
| Other and mixed food products | 5 | 2% |
| Confectionery | 4 | 2% |
| Non alcoholic beverages | 4 | 2% |
| Cereals and bakery products | 3 | 1% |
| Fish and fish products | 3 | 1% |
| Herbs and spices | 3 | 1% |
| Prepared dishes and snacks | 3 | 1% |
| Wine | 3 | 1% |
| Food additives and flavourings | 2 | under 1% |
| Notifying country | Notifications | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Portugal | 39 | 19% |
| Italy | 29 | 14% |
| Spain | 25 | 12% |
| France | 22 | 11% |
| Germany | 12 | 6% |
| Belgium | 8 | 4% |
| Denmark | 8 | 4% |
| Netherlands | 8 | 4% |
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