Sodium metabisulfite
Also appears on labels as: sodium metabisulfite (used as a preservative), sodium metabisulfite
A sulfite salt used as a preservative and antioxidant.
Watched ingredients get highlighted on every product panel you open.
- Where it comes from
- Chemical manufacturing.
- Why it's in the product
- Keeps baked treats and biscuits from spoiling or discoloring.
- Safety and toxicity
- Sulfites destroy thiamine (vitamin B1), and sulfite-preserved meat has caused thiamine deficiency in dogs. That is why sulfites are not allowed in meat intended to supply thiamine.
- Interactions and who should be careful
- Not the same chemical as sodium nitrite, the curing salt, though the two are easy to confuse on a label.
General reference, not veterinary advice. Dose, breed, and existing conditions change the answer, so talk to your vet before changing what your pet eats. Think we got this wrong? Tell us and we log it publicly.
Found in 4 scored products
We flag it by name on 3 of them. Lowest scores first.
Panel Score 59 out of 100, grade D: Better options exist
Milk-BoneFlavor Snacks Dog Biscuitsflagged on this product's score page
Panel Score 63 out of 100, grade C: Proceed with caution
PedigreeTasty Biscuits Peanut Butter Bacon Flavorimported, not reviewedflagged on this product's score page
No Panel Score: not enough data
Milk-BoneMaroSnacks With Real Bone Marrowflagged on this product's score page
