What Is Sulphur Dioxide (E220) in Dried Fruit — and Why Is It Used?

If you've looked closely at a dried-fruit ingredients list, you've probably seen “sulphur dioxide” or “E220” on it. It's one of the most common additives in the dried fruit industry worldwide, and it's worth understanding plainly rather than treating it as a red flag or ignoring it entirely.

What it actually does

Sulphur dioxide is a preservative, antioxidant and antimicrobial agent. In dried fruit specifically, it does three things: it protects the fruit from spoilage by inhibiting the growth of bacteria and mould, it slows oxidation, and it helps the fruit hold on to a bright, appetising colour through drying and storage. Without it, most light-coloured fruit — apricot in particular — darkens considerably as it dries, turning from bright orange to a deep brown.

Why colour matters more than it sounds like it should

It's easy to assume sulphur dioxide is purely cosmetic, but colour retention and preservation are linked: sulphur dioxide's antioxidant effect is what slows the browning reaction (similar to how a cut apple browns in the air), and that same chemical process is part of what keeps the fruit from spoiling faster. So while the bright orange of a typical dried apricot is the most visible result, it's a side effect of a preservative doing its actual job, not decoration for its own sake.

Labelling and sulphites

Under EU Regulation 1169/2011, products containing sulphur dioxide or sulphites above 10mg/kg have to declare it — which is why you'll see “contains sulphites” on the packaging of anything in our range that uses it. Some people are sensitive to sulphites and may prefer to avoid them; if that's you or your customers, our labelling makes it straightforward to tell which products qualify.

Which of our products use it — and which don't

Most of our range is preserved with sulphur dioxide, for the reasons above. Three products are made without it: our unsulphured apricot, our whole (black) prune, and our persimmon. Each darkens naturally as a result — that darker colour is a direct sign that no sulphur dioxide was used, not a defect. Every product's own page states plainly whether it's used, and pricing or lab certificates are available on request for any variety. See our FAQ for more, or browse the full catalogue to compare.